Long-term consumption of Moringa oleifera-supplemented diet enhanced neurocognition, suppressed oxidative stress, acetylcholinesterase activity and neuronal degeneration in rat’s hippocampus

Abstract

Abstract Objectives This study investigates protection against oxidative stress and memory enhancing potential of long-term consumption of Moringa oleifera leaves. Methods Male Wistar rat were fed with mixture of M. oleifera-supplemented diets (MOSD) partitioned in 1, 5, 10, and 20% continuously for 12 weeks. Object recognition test (ORT) and Morris water maze (MWM) was used for assessing neurocognition. Changes in body weight, Lipid peroxidation (MDA), Glutathione (GSH), Catalase (CAT) and Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was assayed in the brain tissue. Histomorphometric of the hippocampus was also examined. Results The diets progressively increase the body weigh after the 12 weeks, improved spatial (MWM) and non-spatial (ORT) memory performance, protect against oxidative stress, inhibit AChE activity and suppresses neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus when stained with Cresyl violent stain. Conclusions Conclusively, long-term consumption of MOSD shows strong protection against oxidative stress and hippocampal degeneration and improves neurocognition with dose dependent effect.