Micro-Vesicles of Moringa oleifera Seeds in Heterozygous Rats for DAT Gene: Effects of Oral Intake on Behavioral Profile and Hematological Parameters

Clelia Buccheri, Fabiana Festucci, Marina Potestà, Valentina Roglia, Roberta Bernardini, Antonella Minutolo, Carla Montesano and Walter Adriani
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Clelia Buccheri: Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
Fabiana Festucci: Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
Marina Potestà: Department of Biological Sciences, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy
Valentina Roglia: Department of Biological Sciences, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy
Roberta Bernardini: Interdepartmental Centre of Comparative Medicine, Alternative Techniques and Aquaculture, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy
Antonella Minutolo: Department of Biological Sciences, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy
Carla Montesano: Department of Biological Sciences, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy
Walter Adriani: Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-14

Abstract: Previous studies have shown multiple biological properties of Moringa oleifera , a plant native to Africa and Asia. In the present study, potential physiological properties of microvesicles extracted from Moringa oleifera seeds were assessed. For this purpose, we investigated behavioral profile and hematological parameters in a recent rat model characterized by dysregulation in dopamine transporter, a key regulator of dopaminergic system. Experimental design consisted of male Wistar-DAT rats aged between two and four months: wild-type (WT) ( n = 5) and heterozygous (DATHET) ( n = 4) control groups, which drank tap water; WT ( n = 5) and DATHET ( n = 6) groups which drank a solution of Moringa microvesicles and water (2: 68 mL per day), which was orally administered for two months. Rats were monitored for spontaneous locomotor activity on a 24/7 basis. In the early lit hours, treated DATHET subjects showed higher locomotor activity, proposing a sleep-delay effect of Moringa . In forced swimming test, WT subjects who took Moringa exhibited more depressive behavior. In DATHET rats, Moringa seemed to potentiate the struggle to find a way out, counteracting an initial panic. Hemoglobin and hematocrit underwent opposite changes in either genotype, supporting the opposite effects on behavioral phenotype observed. Future work is clearly needed to further explore these preliminary profiles.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera; miRNA; cross-kingdom; dopamine transporter (DAT); behavioral profile; Forced Swimming test; spontaneous locomotor activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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