A comparative study of the antidiabetic and cardiopulmonary protective effects of Moringa oleifera and liraglutide in a rat model of alloxan-induced diabetes
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is one of the biggest health problems in the world, increasingly linked to complications in multiple organs, including significant cardiopulmonary dysfunction. Agonists of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor provide efficient glycemic control; however, their accessibility remains limited in low-resource settings. A polyphenol-rich medicinal plant, Moringa oleifera , has shown promising antidiabetic and antioxidant properties, yet its comparative efficacy against certain therapies remains underexplored. This study was designed to assess the antidiabetic, antioxidant, and cardiopulmonary protective impact of M. oleifera extract in an alloxan-induced diabetic rat model, compared with liraglutide, a standard GLP-1 receptor agonist. Four groups of adult Wistar rats were allocated: normal control, diabetic controls receiving no treatment, diabetic rats treated with alcoholic extract of M. oleifera , and diabetic-induced group treated with liraglutide. Alloxan injection was used to induce diabetes. Biochemical markers of glucose homeostasis, oxidative stress, lipid profile, inflammation, and cardiac injury were assessed alongside histopathological evaluations of heart and lung tissues. Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bax gene expressions were also detected. Compared with untreated diabetic controls, both M. oleifera and liraglutide significantly improved glucose homeostasis markers in the treated rats. M. oleifera extract reduced fasting blood glucose to a level comparable to that achieved with liraglutide (76.74% vs. 77.96%, respectively). Dyslipidemia associated with alloxan-induced diabetes was normalized after both treatments. Moreover, markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were markedly decreased. Both treatments enhanced antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and downregulated inflammatory and apoptotic mediators (myeloperoxidase (MPO), Bax, and Bcl2 genes. Following Moringa or liraglutide administration, preservation of cardiac and pulmonary tissue architecture was evidenced by a significant decrease in the cardiopulmonary injury biomarkers (troponin I, heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), copeptin) and histological analysis. Although liraglutide exhibited marginally superior efficacy in some measures, most cardiopulmonary outcomes showed no significant difference between the two treatments. M. oleifera demonstrated strong cardiopulmonary protective effects in diabetic rats, mediated through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. Its effectiveness, oral bioavailability, and safety profile make it a promising supplemental treatment for diabetes-related cardiopulmonary complications, especially in settings with limited resources. Further clinical research is recommended to support our findings in human populations. Icons from www.flaticon.com :