Moringa Tea Blocks Acute Lung Inflammation Induced by Swine Confinement Dust Through a Mechanism Involving TNF-α Expression, C-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Activation and Neutrophil Regulation

Abstract

Plant based products represent a promising alternative to conventional treatments for inflammation. Moringa oleifera Lam is a tree rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals and a variety of phytochemcals with health benefits. Among the reported health benefits are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether tea brewed from dried Moringa leaves would abrogate inflammation in a mouse model of acute lung inflammation induced by LPS or extracts prepared from dust collected from a swine confinement facility (DE). Mice were offered water or Moringa tea for seven days. Tea consumption was significantly greater than that of water consumption on days 1 and 6, but there were no significant differences in weight gain or food consumption. On day seven, mice from both groups were forced to inhale, via intranasal challenge, either Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS), Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) [10 µg mLCompared to mice that drank water, mice that drank Moringa tea had significantly less protein (p<0.05) and cellular influx (p<0.0001) into the lung after inhalation of 10% DE. No difference in neutrophil migration into the lungs of water and M. tea groups after LPS or DE challenge was detected. But mice that drank tea had significantly (p<0.05) more neutrophils with apoptotic morphology after DE challenge. TNF-α expression 24 h after inhalation of 10% DE, was significantly higher (p<0.05) in lungs of M. tea mouse group as compared to water group. This increase in TNF-α was accompanied by higher levels of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, activation of c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) in lungs of M. tea+DE group 24 h post inhalation was decreased. Taken together these results suggest that Moringa oleifera leaf tea exerts antiinflammatory properties on acute lung inflammation induced by swine confinement dust through a mechanism involving neutrophil regulation and JNK activation.

A review of properties, nutritional and pharmaceutical applications of Moringa oleifera: integrative approach on conventional and traditional Asian medicine

“…M. oleifera leaf tea studies demonstrated alterations in blood circulating neutrophils and conclude that Moringa tea has adaptogenic capabilities in cases of stress (Drue et al 2018 ) (Table 5 ). Previous studies using dried Moringa leaves tea in mouse model with acute lung inflammation, showed that mice that had decreased lung inflammation marked by alterations in cytokine production, leukocyte migration, and neutrophil apoptosis (McKnight et al 2014 ). An ethanolic extract of Moringa leaves has anti-anxiety effect in swiss albino mice, the ethanolic extract of M. oleifera leaves may have produced its anxiolytic effects via multiple mechanisms (Bhat 2014 ).…”

Farm animal models of organic dust exposure and toxicity

“…The medicinal plant sorrel ( Hibiscus sabdariffa , rosell), rich in phenolic acids, flavonoids and lignans, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-tumerogenic properties [119-121]. In a recent study by our group, Moringa olifera Lam leaf extract – a medicinal plant rich in vitamins, including vitamin D [122] -- reduced acute lung inflammation mediated by intranasal exposure to ODE in mice that consumed water supplemented with moringa compared to control mice that drank water [123*]. The study showed mice that drank moringa tea had fewer cells present in bronchoalveolar lavage, despite having higher ODE-driven TNF-α levels, a finding that is consistent with observations of Mahajan et al [124] in which a moringa seed extract decreased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell counts, but did not affect TNF-α levels in guinea pigs exposed to aerosolized ovalbumin [124].…”

Sorrel Extract Reduces Oxidant Production in Airway Epithelial Cells Exposed to Swine Barn Dust Extract In Vitro

“…Vitamin D was reported to inhibit organic dust-induced proinflammatory cytokines in vitro (human airway epithelial cells and monocytes) and ex vivo (mouse lung slices) [14]. Mice exposed to hog barn dust but allowed to consume Moringa tea had fewer white blood cells present in bronchoalveolar lavage than mice only drinking water [15]. Hibiscus sabdariffa (sorrel) of the Malvaceae family is a plant native to the West Indies, Jamaica, and China and has been grown in the United States.…”