Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract Improves Cognitive Function in Rat Offspring Born to Protein-Deficient Mothers

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition during pregnancy and the first 1000 days of life can impair brain function and hippocampus development. Research has shown that protein deficiency (PD) in pregnant and lactating mothers can lead to neurocognitive issues from early life into adulthood. Moringa oleifera has been used as a dietary supplement for malnutrition; however, its neuroprotective effects on offspring with PD are unclear. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effects of ethanol leaf extract of Moringa oleifera (EEMO) on rat offspring born to mothers who experienced protein deficiency during pregnancy and lactation. Methods: Female Sprague Dawley rats were given low (9% protein) or normal protein diets (18% protein) during pregnancy and lactation. Afterward, EEMO was administered to the offspring starting from the end of lactation for 5 weeks. Results: Offspring from mothers with protein deficiency showed low birth weight, slow weight gain, low BMI, low albumin levels, and anemia compared to those born with mothers fed with a standard protein diet. However, pups treated with EEMO showed higher cognitive improvement and a decrease in the ratio of abnormal to normal cells in the cornu ammoni (CA) CA1, CA2, CA3, and CA4 regions of the hippocampus. Conclusions: The present study suggests that EEMO supplementation could improve conditions of protein deficiency and cognitive function, making it a cost-effective dietary supplement for addressing these issues.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera; cognitive; hippocampus; malnutrition; maternal protein deficiency.

Figure 1

Diagram of the experimental procedure, animal grouping, and timeline of treatment. (NG: normal group; NG+EEMO 800: normal group plus EEMO 800 mg; PD: protein deficiency; PD+EEMO 400 mg: protein deficiency plus EEMO 400 mg; PD+EEMO 800 mg: protein deficiency plus EEMO 800 mg; RG: recovery group).

Figure 2

Comparison of birth body weight (gram) of pups from mother with normal diet vs. protein deficiency. ^a p < 0.001 vs. NG. NG = normal group; PD = protein deficiency.

Figure 3

Comparison of mean body weight of rat offspring before and after treatment. NG: normal group; NG+EEMO 800: normal group plus EEMO 800 mg; PD: protein deficiency; PD+EEMO 400 mg: protein deficiency plus EEMO 400 mg; PD+EEMO 800 mg: protein deficiency plus EEMO 800 mg; RG: recovery group. ^a p < 0.05 vs. NG, ^b p < 0.05 vs. PD, ^c p < 0.05 vs. PD+EEMO 400, ^d p < 0.05 vs. PD+EEMO 800.

Figure 4

Physical appearance of the rat mothers and their subsequent offspring. (A) Normal pregnant mother (left) and PD pregnant mother (right). (B) Rat offspring from left to right (8 weeks old). (NG, normal group; NG+EEMO 800, normal group plus EEMO 800 mg; RG, recovery group; PD+EEMO 800 mg, protein deficiency plus EEMO 800 mg; PD+EEMO 400 mg, protein deficiency plus MO 400 mg; PD, protein deficiency, respectively).

Figure 5

Comparison of percentage alternation (%). ^a p < 0.05 vs. NG, ^b p < 0.05 vs. PD, ^c p < 0.05 vs. PD+EEMO 400. (NG, normal group; NG+EEMO 800, normal group plus EEMO 800 mg; PD, protein deficiency; PD+EEMO 400, protein deficiency plus EEMO 400 mg; PD+EEMO 800, protein deficiency plus EEMO 800 mg; RG, recovery group).

Figure 6

Histopathological depiction of the hippocampal cornu ammonis (CA) area with HE staining at 400× magnification. (A) Normal group (NG); (B) NG+EEMO 800 mg; (C) protein deficiency (PD); (D) PD+EEMO 400 mg; (E) PD+EEMO 800 mg; (F) recovery group (RG). Black arrows indicate normal pyramidal neurons; red arrows indicate degenerated pyramidal neurons; star symbols indicate glial cells; GD indicates the gyrus dentate region; the scale on the image is 20 µm.

Figure 7

Comparison of abnormal and normal cells in the hippocampal tissues. CA1 area (A), CA2 area (B), CA3 area (C) and CA4 area (D). ^a p < 0.05 vs. NG, ^b p < 0.05 vs. PD, ^c p < 0.05 vs. PD+EEMO 400. (NG, normal group; NG+EEMO 800, normal group plus EEMO 800 mg; PD, protein deficiency; PD+EEMO 400, protein deficiency plus EEMO 400 mg; PD+EEMO 800, protein deficiency plus EEMO 800 mg; RG, recovery group).