NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF <EM DATA-START="544" DATA-END="562" >MORINGA OLEIFERA</EM> AGAINST MPTP-INDUCED DOPAMINERGIC NEURODEGENERATION IN A MURINE MODEL

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to motor and non-motor impairments. Environmental neurotoxins such as 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) are widely used to model Parkinsonian neurodegeneration in rodents. In this study, we investigated the potential neuroprotective effects of Moringa oleifera, a medicinal plant rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, in an MPTP-induced mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. Adult mice were exposed to MPTP to induce dopaminergic neurotoxicity and treated with Moringa oleifera extracts following a defined administration protocol. Motor behavior was assessed using standard behavioral paradigms, and neurochemical and cellular alterations were evaluated through analyses of dopaminergic markers and oxidative stress parameters in the nigrostriatal pathway. MPTP administration induced significant motor deficits and dopaminergic dysfunction, accompanied by increased oxidative stress. Treatment with Moringa oleifera attenuated MPTP-induced motor impairments and partially preserved dopaminergic integrity, suggesting a protective effect against neurotoxic injury. These findings provide experimental evidence supporting the neuroprotective potential of Moringa oleifera in toxin-induced Parkinsonian neurodegeneration and highlight the relevance of plant-derived compounds as complementary strategies for mitigating neurodegenerative processes.