Topical moringin-cream relieves neuropathic pain by suppression of inflammatory pathway and voltage-gated ion channels in murine model of multiple sclerosis

Implications of nociceptor receptors and immune modulation: emerging therapeutic targets for autoimmune diseases

Chronic painful autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) induce significant discomfort. They are defined by persistent inflammation and immune-mediated tissue injury. The activation and sensitisation of nociceptors, mutated in various disorders, are fundamental components contributing to the pain experienced in these conditions. Recent discoveries indicate that immunological mediators and nociceptive receptors interact functionally within peripheral and central sensitisation pathways, amplifying chronic pain. This research examines the involvement of nociceptors in rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease. It explores how immune cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines induce, sensitise and regulate various nociceptive receptors (P2X, TRPA1 and TRPV1). Finally, we address possible future directions with respect to the treatment of long-lasting effects on immunity, and what new drug targets could be pursued as well, in order to counteract such either neuro-immune interactions in conditions involving the immunological system. By studying nociceptive mechanisms across autoimmune illnesses, we want to identify shared pathways and activation of nociceptors specific to individual diseases. This will shed insight on potential therapies for managing pain associated with autoimmune diseases.

The role of isothiocyanate-rich plants and supplements in neuropsychiatric disorders: a review and update

Neuroinflammation in response to environmental stressors is an important common pathway in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Responses to immune-mediated stress can lead to epigenetic changes and the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. Isothiocyanates (ITC) have shown promise in combating oxidative stress and inflammation in the nervous system as well as organ systems. While sulforaphane from broccoli is the most widely studied ITC for biomedical applications, ITC and their precursor glucosinolates are found in many species of cruciferous and other vegetables including moringa. In this review, we examine both clinical and pre-clinical studies of ITC on the amelioration of neuropsychiatric disorders (neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and other) from 2018 to the present, including documentation of protocols for several ongoing clinical studies. During this time, there have been 16 clinical studies (9 randomized controlled trials), most of which reported on the effect of sulforaphane on autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. We also review over 80 preclinical studies examining ITC treatment of brain-related dysfunctions and disorders. The evidence to date reveals ITC have great potential for treating these conditions with minimal toxicity. The authors call for well-designed clinical trials to further the translation of these potent phytochemicals into therapeutic practice.

The properties and mechanism of action of plant immunomodulators in regulation of immune response - A narrative review focusing on Curcuma longa L., Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer and Moringa oleifera Lam

Herbal treatments have been utilized for millennia to cure a variety of ailments. There are over 20, 000 herbal remedies available to treat cancer and other disease in humans. In Ayurveda, traditional plants having revitalizing and nourishing characteristics are known as "Rasayanas." They have anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-microbicidal, antiviral, and immunomodulatory effects on the immune system. Immunomodulation is a mechanism through which the body stimulates, suppresses, or boosts the immune system to maintain homeostasis. Plant-derived immunomodulators are typically phytocompounds, including carbohydrates, phenolics, lipids, alkaloids, terpenoids, organosulfur, and nitrogen-containing chemicals. Immunomodulation activity of phytocompounds from traditional plants is primarily mediated through macrophage activation, phagocytosis stimulation, peritoneal macrophage stimulation, lymphoid cell stimulation, and suppression or enhancement of specific and non-specific cellular immune systems via numerous signalling pathways. Despite extensive research, the precise mechanism of immunomodulation of most traditional plants has not yet been fully elucidated, justifying the need for further experimentation. Therefore, this review describes the immunomodulatory agents from traditional plants such as Curcuma longa L., Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, and Moringa oleifera Lam, further highlighting the common molecular targets and immunomodulatory mechanism involved in eradicating diseases.

An insight into the neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory effects and mechanisms of Moringa oleifera

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are sporadic maladies that affect patients' lives with progressive neurological disabilities and reduced quality of life. Neuroinflammation and oxidative reaction are among the pivotal factors for neurodegenerative conditions, contributing to the progression of NDs, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS) and Huntington's disease (HD). Management of NDs is still less than optimum due to its wide range of causative factors and influences, such as lifestyle, genetic variants, and environmental aspects. The neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory activities of Moringa oleifera have been documented in numerous studies due to its richness of phytochemicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This review highlights up-to-date research findings on the anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effects of M. oleifera, including mechanisms against NDs. The information was gathered from databases, which include Scopus, Science Direct, Ovid-MEDLINE, Springer, and Elsevier. Neuroprotective effects of M. oleifera were mainly assessed by using the crude extracts in vitro and in vivo experiments. Isolated compounds from M. oleifera such as moringin, astragalin, and isoquercitrin, and identified compounds of M. oleifera such as phenolic acids and flavonoids (chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin, (-)-epicatechin, and isoquercitrin) have been reported to have neuropharmacological activities. Therefore, these compounds may potentially contribute to the neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory effects. More in-depth studies using in vivo animal models of neurological-related disorders and extensive preclinical investigations, such as pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and bioavailability studies are necessary before clinical trials can be carried out to develop M. oleifera constituents into neuroprotective agents.

The Novel Gabapentinoid Mirogabalin Prevents Upregulation of α2δ-1 Subunit of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels in Spinal Dorsal Horn in a Rat Model of Spinal Nerve Ligation

Gabapentinoids are specific ligands for the α₂δ-1 subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels. This class of drugs, including gabapentin and pregabalin, exert various pharmacological effects and are widely used for the treatment of epilepsy, anxiety, and chronic pain. The mechanism of action of gabapentinoids involves both direct modulation of calcium channel kinetics and inhibition of channel trafficking and expression, which contribute to the above pharmacological effects. In the present study, we investigated the effects of mirogabalin, a novel potent gabapentinoid, on expression levels of the α₂δ-1 subunit in the spinal dorsal horn in a rat model of spinal nerve ligation (SNL) as an experimental animal model for peripheral neuropathic pain. The neuropathic pain state was induced by SNL in male Sprague - Dawley rats. After the development of mechanical hypersensitivity, the animals received 10 mg/kg mirogabalin or vehicle orally for 5 consecutive days and were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis of α₂δ-1 subunit expression in the spinal cord. In the SNL model rats, expression of the α₂δ-1 subunit significantly increased in the spinal dorsal horn at the ipsilateral side of nerve injury, while mirogabalin inhibited this increase. In conclusion, the α₂δ-1 subunit was upregulated in the spinal dorsal horn of SNL model rats, and repeated administration of mirogabalin inhibited this upregulation. The inhibitory effect of mirogabalin on upregulation of the α₂δ-1 subunit after nerve injury is considered to contribute to its analgesic effects in peripheral neuropathic pain.

Selected Seeds as Sources of Bioactive Compounds with Diverse Biological Activities

Seeds contain a variety of phytochemicals that exhibit a wide range of biological activities. Plant-derived compounds are often investigated for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic, anti-hypercholesterolemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-platelet, anti-apoptotic, anti-nociceptive, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, hepatoprotective, or neuroprotective properties. In this review, we have described the chemical content and biological activity of seeds from eight selected plant species-blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.), black raspberry (Rubus coreanus Miq.), grape (Vitis vinifera L.), Moringa oleifera Lam., sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), Gac (Momordica cochinchinensis Sprenger), hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), and sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L). This review is based on studies identified in electronic databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and SCOPUS. Numerous preclinical, and some clinical studies have found that extracts, fractions, oil, flour, proteins, polysaccharides, or purified chemical compounds isolated from the seeds of these plants display promising, health-promoting effects, and could be utilized in drug development, or to make nutraceuticals and functional foods. Despite that, many of these properties have been studied only in vitro, and it's unsure if their effects would be relevant in vivo as well, so there is a need for more animal studies and clinical trials that would help determine if they could be applied in disease prevention or treatment.

Moringa isothiocyanate-1 inhibits LPS-induced inflammation in mouse myoblasts and skeletal muscle

This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of moringa isothiocyanate-1 (MIC-1) extracted from seeds of Moringa oleifera Lam. in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation models. MIC-1 decreased nitric oxide production and reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory markers (TNF-α, Ifn-α, IL-1β, IL-6) in C2C12 myoblasts. The daily oral treatment of MIC-1 (80 mg/kg) for three days significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory markers in gastrocnemius muscle tissue of LPS-treated C57BL/6 male mice. Transcriptomic analysis provided further insights into the inhibitory effects of MIC-1 on the LPS-induced inflammation, which suggested that MIC-1 affects inflammation and immunity-related genes in myoblasts and skeletal muscle tissue. MIC-1 inhibited the nuclear accumulation of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) in the LPS-treated myoblasts. Our data support the hypothesis that the MIC-1's effects in the muscle cells are mediated through the inhibition of the NF-κB translocation in the nucleus, which, in turn, results in immunomodulating and anti-inflammatory responses at the gene expression levels.

Neuroprotective potential of Moringa oleifera mediated by NF-kB/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway: A review

Moringa oleifera is a traditional Indian herb belonging to the Moringaceae family, it is commonly known as the horse-radish tree, drumstick, or sahajna. In developing countries, Moringa is used as feed for both humans and animals due to its well-known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties owing to its several phytoconstituents including β-carotene, quercetin, kaempferol, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, phenolic acid, rhamnose, glycosylates, glucomoringin, and isothiocyanates. These constituents help to maintain the brain antioxidant enzyme levels, mitochondrial functions, and neurogenesis, showing neuroprotective effects in several neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Huntington's Disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This review discusses various phytoconstituent of moringa and their therapeutic potential in various neurological disorders. Additionally, we also concise the safety and toxicity profile, of different molecular pathways involved in the neuroprotective effect of M. oleifera including M. oleifera nanoparticles for better therapeutic value. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Several clinical and preclinical studies on Moringa oleifera have been conducted, and the outcomes indicate moringa could be used in the treatment of brain disorders. As a result, we conclude that moringa and its nanoformulations could be employed to treat neurological problems. In the future, M. oleifera phytoconstituents could be evaluated against specific signaling pathways, which could aid researchers in discovering their mechanism of action. Furthermore, the use of moringa as a nutraceutical owing to its myriad pharmacological potential will go a long way in boosting the economy of countries that grow moringa on a large scale.

P2X7 receptor in inflammation and pain

Different studies have confirmed P2X7 receptor-mediated inflammatory mediators play a key role in the development of pain. P2X7 receptor activation can induce the development of pain by mediating the release of inflammatory mediators. In view of the fact that P2X7 receptor is expressed in the nervous system and immune system, it is closely related to the stability and maintenance of the nervous system function. ATP activates P2X7 receptor, opens non-selective cation channels, activates multiple intracellular signaling, releases multiple inflammatory cytokines, and induces pain. At present, the role of P2X7 receptor in inflammatory response and pain has been widely recognized and affirmed. Therefore, in this paper, we discussed the pathological mechanism of P2X7 receptor-mediated inflammation and pain, focused on the internal relationship between P2X7 receptor and pain. Moreover, we also described the effects of some antagonists on pain relief by inhibiting the activities of P2X7 receptor. Thus, targeting to inhibit activation of P2X7 receptor is expected to become another potential target for the relief of pain.

Beneficial Health Effects of Glucosinolates-Derived Isothiocyanates on Cardiovascular and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are illnesses that affect the nervous system and heart, all of which are vital to the human body. To maintain health of the human body, vegetable diets serve as a preventive approach and particularly Brassica vegetables have been associated with lower risks of chronic diseases, especially NDDs and CVDs. Interestingly, glucosinolates (GLs) and isothiocyanates (ITCs) are phytochemicals that are mostly found in the Cruciferae family and they have been largely documented as antioxidants contributing to both cardio- and neuroprotective effects. The hydrolytic breakdown of GLs into ITCs such as sulforaphane (SFN), phenylethyl ITC (PEITC), moringin (MG), erucin (ER), and allyl ITC (AITC) has been recognized to exert significant effects with regards to cardio- and neuroprotection. From past in vivo and/or in vitro studies, those phytochemicals have displayed the ability to mitigate the adverse effects of reactive oxidation species (ROS), inflammation, and apoptosis, which are the primary causes of CVDs and NDDs. This review focuses on the protective effects of those GL-derived ITCs, featuring their beneficial effects and the mechanisms behind those effects in CVDs and NDDs.

Neuropathic Pain in Multiple Sclerosis and Its Animal Models: Focus on Mechanisms, Knowledge Gaps and Future Directions

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a multifaceted, complex and chronic neurological disease that leads to motor, sensory and cognitive deficits. MS symptoms are unpredictable and exceedingly variable. Pain is a frequent symptom of MS and manifests as nociceptive or neuropathic pain, even at early disease stages. Neuropathic pain is one of the most debilitating symptoms that reduces quality of life and interferes with daily activities, particularly because conventional pharmacotherapies do not adequately alleviate neuropathic pain. Despite advances, the mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain in MS remain elusive. The majority of the studies investigating the pathophysiology of MS-associated neuropathic pain have been performed in animal models that replicate some of the clinical and neuropathological features of MS. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is one of the best-characterized and most commonly used animal models of MS. As in the case of individuals with MS, rodents affected by EAE manifest increased sensitivity to pain which can be assessed by well-established assays. Investigations on EAE provided valuable insights into the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain. Nevertheless, additional investigations are warranted to better understand the events that lead to the onset and maintenance of neuropathic pain in order to identify targets that can facilitate the development of more effective therapeutic interventions. The goal of the present review is to provide an overview of several mechanisms implicated in neuropathic pain in EAE by summarizing published reports. We discuss current knowledge gaps and future research directions, especially based on information obtained by use of other animal models of neuropathic pain such as nerve injury.

Anti-Cancer and Medicinal Potentials of Moringa Isothiocyanate

Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera), which belongs to the Moringaceae family, is a common herb, rich in plant compounds. It has a variety of bioactive compounds that can act as antioxidants, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents, etc., which can be obtained in different body parts of M. oleifera. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) from M. oleifera are one class of these active substances that can inhibit cancer proliferation and promote cancer cell apoptosis through multiple signaling pathways, thus curbing cancer migration and metastasis, at the same time they have little adverse effect on normal cells. There are multiple variants of ITCs in M. oleifera, but the predominant phytochemical is 4-(α-L-rhamnosyloxy)benzyl isothiocyanate, also known as moringa isothiocyanate (MIC-1). Studies have shown that MIC-1 has the possibility to be used clinically for the treatment of diabetes, neurologic diseases, obesity, ulcerative colitis, and several cancer types. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer and anti-chronic disease effects of MIC-1, current trends, and future direction of MIC-1 based treatment strategies. This review combines the relevant literature of the past 10 years, in order to provide more comprehensive information of MIC-1 and to fully exploit its potentiality in the clinical settings.

Moringa oleifera: A Tree of Life as a Promising Medicinal Plant for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Moringa oleifera, popularly known as a miracle tree or tree of life, has been extensively used as a functional food and nutritional asset worldwide. Ethnomedicinal and traditional uses of M. oleifera indicate that this plant might have a pleiotropic therapeutic efficacy against most human ailments. In fact, M. oleifera is reported to have several pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, antipyretic, antiulcer, antispasmodic, antihypertensive, antitumor, hepatoprotective, and cardiac stimulant properties. Recently, a few experimental studies reported the neuroprotective effects of M. oleifera against Alzheimer's disease, dementia, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and neurotoxicity-related symptoms. In addition, several neuroprotective phytochemicals have been isolated from M. oleifera, which signifies that it can have promising neuroprotective effects. Therefore, this review aimed to explore the current updates and future prospective of neuroprotective efficacies of M. oleifera.

Moringin, A Stable Isothiocyanate from Moringa oleifera, Activates the Somatosensory and Pain Receptor TRPA1 Channel In Vitro

Moringa oleifera Lam. is a tropical plant widely used in traditional medicines and as a food supplement. It is characterized by the presence of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates; the stable isothiocyanate 4-[(α-l-rhamnosyloxy)benzyl]isothiocyanate (moringin) has been widely studied for its bioactivity as hypoglycemic, antimicrobial, anticancer and in particular for its involvement in nociception and neurogenic pain. Moringa extracts and pure moringin were submitted to in vitro assays with the somatosensory TRPA1 ion channel, proving that moringin is a potent and effective agonist of this receptor involved in nociceptive function and pain states. Moringin do not activate or activates very weakly the vanilloids somatosensory channels TRPV1,2,3 and 4, and the melastatin cooling receptor TRPM8. The comparison of moringin’s activity with other known agonists of natural origin is also discussed.

Organic Isothiocyanates as Hydrogen Sulfide Donors

Significance: Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), the "new entry" in the series of endogenous gasotransmitters, plays a fundamental role in regulating the biological functions of various organs and systems. Consequently, the lack of adequate levels of H₂S may represent the etiopathogenetic factor of multiple pathological alterations. In these diseases, the use of H₂S donors represents a precious and innovative opportunity. Recent Advances: Natural isothiocyanates (ITCs), sulfur compounds typical of some botanical species, have long been investigated because of their intriguing pharmacological profile. Recently, the ITC moiety has been proposed as a new H₂S-donor chemotype (with a l-cysteine-mediated reaction). Based on this recent discovery, we can clearly observe that almost all the effects of natural ITCs can be explained by the H₂S release. Consistently, the ITC function was also used as an original H₂S-releasing moiety for the design of synthetic H₂S donors and original "pharmacological hybrids." Very recently, the chemical mechanism of H₂S release, resulting from the reaction between l-cysteine and some ITCs, has been elucidated. Critical Issues: Available literature gives convincing demonstration that H₂S is the real player in ITC pharmacology. Further, countless studies have been carried out on natural ITCs, but this versatile moiety has been used only rarely for the design of synthetic H₂S donors with optimal drug-like properties. Future Directions: The development of more ITC-based synthetic H₂S donors with optimal drug-like properties and selectivity toward specific tissues/pathologies seem to represent a stimulating and indispensable prospect of future experimental activities.

Voluntary wheel running reveals sex-specific nociceptive factors in murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, neurodegenerative autoimmune disease associated with sensory and motor dysfunction. Although estimates vary, ∼50% of patients with MS experience pain during their disease. The mechanisms underlying the development of pain are not fully understood, and no effective treatment for MS-related pain is available. Previous work from our laboratory demonstrated that voluntary exercise (wheel running) can reduce nociceptive behaviours at the disease onset in female mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model used to study the immunopathogenesis of MS. However, given the established sex differences in the underlying mechanisms of chronic pain and MS, we wanted to investigate whether wheel running would also be effective at preventing nociceptive behaviours in male mice with EAE. C57BL/6 mice of both sexes were given access to running wheels for 1 hour/day until the disease onset, when nociceptive behaviour was assessed using von Frey hairs. Daily running effectively reduced nociceptive behaviour in female mice, but not in male mice. We explored the potential biological mechanisms for these effects and found that the reduction in nociceptive behaviour in female mice was associated with reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines from myelin-reactive T cells as well as reduced dorsal root ganglia excitability as seen by decreased calcium responses. These changes were not seen in male mice. Instead, running increased the levels of inflammatory cytokines and potentiated Ca responses in dorsal root ganglia cells. Our results show that voluntary wheel running has sex-dependent effects on nociceptive behaviour and inflammatory responses in male and female mice with EAE.

Crucifers and related vegetables and supplements for neurologic disorders: what is the evidence?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Neurologic disorders have varied pathophysiology, yet many of them appear to have core molecular pathways that are aberrant. We review the evidence that a dietary component may have utility in ameliorating or preventing at least some of them.

RECENT FINDINGS

The weight of evidence supporting prescriptive dietary recommendations to promote or enhance healthspan has been building for decades. Cruciferous vegetables are a key part of the arsenal of nutrition-based approaches for reducing the burden of chronic disease. Much new evidence suggests that neurological disorders are among the potential targets for this approach. This evidence includes at least nine clinical studies of neurodevelopmental conditions like autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia, and there are a great many studies in animal model systems, of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. This review highlights the most bioactive and most well-studied compounds from crucifers - the isothiocyanates, in particular sulforaphane.

SUMMARY

There is great promise for the regular use of cruciferous vegetables or supplements containing standardized levels of bioactives in the treatment and prevention of neurologic disorders. Many clinical and animal studies are underway, and the evidence is building to support this strategy.

Treatment of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells with MOR and CBD Promotes Cell Survival and Neuronal Differentiation via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway

Periodontal ligament mesenchymal stem cells (hPDLSCs), as well as all mesenchymal stem cells, show self-renewal, clonogenicity, and multi-tissue differentiation proprieties and can represent a valid support for regenerative medicine. We treated hPDLSCs with a combination of Moringin (MOR) and Cannabidiol (CBD), in order to understand if treatment could improve their survival and their in vitro differentiation capacity. Stem cells survival is fundamental to achieve a successful therapy outcome in the re-implanted tissue of patients. Through NGS transcriptome analysis, we found that combined treatment increased hPDLSCs survival, by inhibition of apoptosis as demonstrated by enhanced expression of anti-apoptotic genes and reduction of pro-apoptotic ones. Moreover, we investigated the possible involvement of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, emphasizing a differential gene expression between treated and untreated cells. Furthermore, hPDLSCs were cultured for 48 h in the presence or absence of CBD and MOR and, after confirming the cellular viability through MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide) assay, we examined the presence of neuronal markers, through immunofluorescence analysis. We found an increased expression of Nestin and GAP43 (growth associated protein 43) in treated cells. In conclusion, hPDLSCs treated with Moringin and Cannabidiol showed an improved survival capacity and neuronal differentiation potential.

Moringin Induces Neural Differentiation in the Stem Cell of the Human Periodontal Ligament

The therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases still represent a vast research field because of the lack of targeted, effective and resolutive treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. The use of stem cell-based therapy is an alternative approach that could lead to the replacement of damaged neuronal tissue. For this purpose, adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), including periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), could be very useful for their differentiation capacity, easy isolation and the ability to perform an autologous implant. The aim of this work was to test whether the Moringin [4-(α-L-rhamnosyloxy) benzyl isothiocyanate; GMG-ITC], an isothiocyanate extracted from Moringa oleifera seeds, was able to induce PDLSCs toward neural progenitor differentiation. Next-generation transcriptomics sequencing showed that moringin treatment increased the expression of genes involved in neuron cortical development and in particular in neuron belonging to upper and deep cortical layers. Moreover, moringin treatment upregulated genes involved in osteogenesis and adipogenesis although with a lower fold change compared to upregulated genes involved in neuronal differentiation. Finally, moringin did not induce the expression of oncogenes resulting in a safe treatment.

Protective Effect of Glucosinolates Hydrolytic Products in Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDDs)

Crucifer vegetables, Brassicaceae and other species of the order Brassicales, e.g., Moringaceae that are commonly consumed as spice and food, have been reported to have potential benefits for the treatment and prevention of several health disorders. Though epidemiologically inconclusive, investigations have shown that consumption of those vegetables may result in reducing and preventing the risks associated with neurodegenerative disease development and may also exert other biological protections in humans. The neuroprotective effects of these vegetables have been ascribed to their secondary metabolites, glucosinolates (GLs), and their related hydrolytic products, isothiocyanates (ITCs) that are largely investigated for their various medicinal effects. Extensive pre-clinical studies have revealed more than a few molecular mechanisms of action elucidating multiple biological effects of GLs hydrolytic products. This review summarizes the most significant and up-to-date in vitro and in vivo neuroprotective actions of sulforaphane (SFN), moringin (MG), phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), 6-(methylsulfinyl) hexyl isothiocyanate (6-MSITC) and erucin (ER) in neurodegenerative diseases.