Protective effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) and Sclerocarya birrea [(A.Rich.) Hochst.] (Asclepiadaceae) on INS-1 pancreatic β -cells.

Abstract

Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) and Sclerocarya birrea (Asclepiadaceae) are two plants used in traditional medicine in Burkina Faso in the treatment of diabetes. The aim of our study was to investigate the protective effects of ethanol (80 %) extract of Moringa oleifera (MO) fruits and stem barks of Sclerocarya birrea (SB) on the viability and functionality of the pancreatic β-cells, during oxidative stress induced by H2o2. Viability was evaluated by the (3-(4.5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium  bromide] (MTI) colorimetric assay and functionality by the measurement  of insulin secretion induced by glucose (8.3 mM). We showed that MO and SB (10 µg/mL) after two hours partially prevented the alteration of viability induced by H202 (50 µM).  The alteration of the functionality is completely prevented by 10 µg/mL of MO after one hour and 1 µg/mL of SB after two hours. Moringa oleifera and Sclerocarya birrea protected cell viability and functionality against oxidative stress induced exogenously. These results indicate the potential of these two plants in preventing β-cells dysfunction.