Miracle Tree (Moringa oleifera) Attuned GFAP and Synaptophysin Levels, Oxidative Stress and Biomarkers in Cerebellar Fluorosis of Pregnant Rats

Abstract

&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Cerebellar fluorosis is a health issue associated with excessive exposure to fluoride (F) either in direct or indirect ways as pesticides, drinking water and caries preventing prescriptions. It is characterized by elevation in oxidative stress, inflammation, demyelination and Purkinje cell loss. &lt;i&gt;Moringa oleifera&lt;/i&gt; (M), is a widely cultivated plant used as a health-booster agent in modulating various disorders because of its high content of vitamins and minerals. The beneficial effect of moringa against fluoride-induced cerebellar toxicity in pregnant rats was investigated in this study. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Twenty pregnant rats were administered daily 300 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt; &lt;i&gt;M. oleifera&lt;/i&gt; aqueous extract incorporated with 10 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt; of F intoxication from the 1st day of gestation until the 20th day. Following the termination of the trial, sera were collected and cerebellar tissue was removed for further examinations, along with the assessment of maternity. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The &lt;i&gt;M. oleifera&lt;/i&gt; significantly normalized serum FSH, LH, progesterone, dopamine and serotonin levels of F-intoxicated mothers. Additionally, &lt;i&gt;M. oleifera&lt;/i&gt; markedly prevented the lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation indicated by the tail length and moment in comet assay (-34.4 and -75.3%, respectively, when compared to the fluoride intoxicated group), while sustaining the levels of SOD and CAT revealing its antioxidant activity. The &lt;i&gt;M. oleifera&lt;/i&gt; regressed the cerebellar α-amylase (-25.4%) and acetylcholinesterase activity (-40.6%), also attenuated GFAP (-73.4%, p<0.0001), synaptophysin level (216.6%, p<0.0001) and IL-6 expression (-91.2%) comparing to fluoride only treated mothers. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Histological and ultrastructural examinations confirmed the recuperating effects of &lt;i&gt;M. oleifera&lt;/i&gt; on mothers' cerebellar tissue intoxicated with fluoride indicated by intact folia and restored Purkinje cells number and architecture. The maternal study emphasized the anti-abortifacient activity of moringa against fluoride induced-fetotoxicity.

Keywords: Cerebellar fluorosis; GFAP; Purkinje cells; fetotoxicity; folia; synaptophysin.