Moringa oleifera Extract Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Driven Systemic Cytokine Dysregulation in Rats

Abstract

Background: Overactive Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) creates a program of cytokines that can trigger systemic inflammatory damage. Polyphenols, flavonoids and isothiocyanate-containing glucosinolates are redox-sensitive and inflammatory signaling node-active components of Moringa oleifera. This study aimed to assess the effect of M. oleifera on basal cytokine tone and its protection against LPS-induced systemic cytokine dysregulation in rats.
Methods: The rats were divided into six groups (n=6) and were subjected to a 28-day protocol; the concentration of serum interleukin (IL)-6, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-10, and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) was measured using rat-specific sandwich ELISA. The experimental calibration curves were found to be linear with R² values ranging from 0.9998 to 0.9999. One-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's test were used to compare the groups.
Results: LPS increased IL-6 (113.58 ± 6.29 vs 36.51 ± 3.58 pg/mL), TNF-α (125.01 ± 11.63 vs 40.19 ± 2.89 pg/mL), and IFN-γ (98.02 ± 4.82 vs 32.58 ± 1.60 pg/mL), while reducing IL-10 (20.00 ± 3.07 vs 28.39 ± 2.48 pg/mL) relative to control (all Tukey-adjusted p ≤ 0.004). Co-treatment with 200 mg/kg Moringa reduced LPS-associated IL-6 by 33.3%, TNF-α by 35.3%, and IFN-γ by 27.0%, and increased IL-10 by 139.8% (all p < 0.001). The treatment group effects ranged from very large (η² = 0.888–0.985) across all markers. In non-challenged rats, 400 mg/kg reduced IL-6, and TNF-α, and increased IL-10 compared to control while having no effect on IFN-γ.
Conclusion: The immunomodulatory signature of M. oleifera was coherent and showed a significant downmodulation of LPS-induced levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, followed by a restoration and overshoot of IL-10, but not full reversal or clinical efficacy; validation was done at pathway and tissue level.