Niazirin from Moringa oleifera Lam. attenuates high glucose-induced oxidative stress through PKCζ/Nox4 pathway

Background: Diabetic complications-coronary atherosclerosis is closely related to the increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by hyperglycemia. ROS are reported to induce the abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) under high glucose conditions. Leaf and seed extracts from Moringa oleifera are found to exhibit antioxidant activity. However, few studies are evaluating the antioxidant activities of chemical compounds isolated from the M. oleifera especially in cardiovascular field. Purpose: The aim of this study is to explore the antioxidative effect during hyperglycemia of niazirin from M. oleifera. Study design: A cell model was applied. Methods: After the taking the in vitro antioxidant experiment including ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) assay and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Cell viability was carried out using high glucose-induced VSMCs model. ROS production was tested by 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) assay. The protein kinase C zeta (PKCζ) and NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox 4) expression in vitro and in vivo were measured by western blot analysis. Results: Niazirin showed good free radical scavenging activity. Niazirin significantly attenuated the proliferation of high glucose-induced VSMCs. Furthermore, it could decrease the ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) productions, while increased total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels in high glucose-induced VSMCs and streptozotocin-induced mice. In addition, niazirin could eliminate the high glucose-induced PKCζ activation, indicated by Thr410 phosphorylation and inhibition of the Nox4 protein expression in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: Niazirin from M. oleifera exhibited notably antioxidant activities and could be utilized as a potential natural antioxidant in preventing diabetic atherosclerosis.