Effects of Lombok Island’s local moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf powder on the decrease of liver fructose levels and GLUT5 expression in albino rats (Rattus novergicus) fed a high fructose diet

BACKGROUND: Consumed fructose enters enterocytes of the intestinal epithelial apical membrane mediated by glucose transporter 5 (GLUT5). AIM: To determine the effects of Lombok Island’s local Moringa leaf powder on reducing liver fructose levels and GLUT5 expression in the small intestine of albino rats (Rattus novergicus) fed a high-fructose diet. METHODS: Moringa leaf (Moringa oleifera) was obtained from Lombok Island, Indonesia. Subsequently, 30 male albino rats (R. novergicus) were used, divided into the normal group (NG), treatment group 1 (T1G), treatment group 2 (T2G), Quercetin group (QG), Moringa group (MG). Quercetin and moringa leaf powder (M. oleifera) was administered at 50 and 500 mg/kgbw for 28 days. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) method was used to examine liver fructose levels. The observation of GLUT5 expression in the small intestine was performed by the Immunofluorescence method. RESULTS: The ANOVA test proved that there are significant differences (p < 0.005) in liver fructose levels in all groups. Further post hoc tests show no significant difference (p > 0.005) in liver fructose levels in rats fed a high fructose diet in T1G and T2G with QG and MG rats. However, Moringa leaf powder reduces liver fructose levels by 32.1% and 17.2% in T1G and T2G rats, respectively. The ANOVA test showed a significant difference (p < 0.005) in the expression of GLUT5 in all groups. Further post hoc tests showed a significant difference (p < 0.005) in the expression of GLUT5 in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum between the NG and the T1G rats. Meanwhile, in T2G rats, significant differences were only found in the jejunum. Moringa leaf powder reduces GLUT5 expression in T1G rats by 44.5%, 59.5%, and 57.2% in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, whereas in T2G rats is by 33.5%, 50.2%, and 48.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The administration of local moringa (M. oleifera) leaf powder in Lombok Island had an effect on reducing GLUT5 expression in the small intestine, however, did not in liver fructose levels of albino rats (R. novergicus) fed a high-fructose diet.