Protective Impacts of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract against Methotrexate-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis on Mouse Spleen

OBJECTIVE: The current study was aimed to examine the possible ameliorative impacts of MO leaf extract (MOLE) against MTX-induced alterations on oxidative stress of mouse spleen and explore the possible molecular mechanism that controls such impacts. METHODS: Adult male mice were allocated into 4 groups: control, Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOLE), MTX, and MOLE plus MTX. Mice received MOLE orally for a week before MTX injection and continued for 12 days. Serum and spleen were sampled for biochemical and quantitative gene expressions. RESULTS: As compared with the MTX-injected group, MOLE effectively reduced the changes in total proteins, spleen MDA, SOD and catalase activities, and changes in serum antioxidants levels. Moreover, there is downregulation of antioxidant genes (SOD and catalase) and antiapoptotic genes (XIAP and Bcl-xl) along with upregulation in Bax and caspase-3 mRNA (apoptotic genes) in the MTX-injected group. MTX induced changes in IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10 expression. MOLE restored and ameliorated the changes induced in biochemical, antioxidants, apoptosis, and apoptosis associated genes that were induced by MTX intoxication. CONCLUSION: Current findings indicated that pretreatment with MOLE to MTX-intoxicated mice showed the potential usage of MO for oxidative stress and apoptosis treatment.