Anti-Fibrotic Effect of Oleamide Identified from the Moringa oleifera Lam. Leaves via Inhibition of TGF-β1-Induced SMAD2/3 Signaling Pathway

Authors

Chavisa Khongpiroon, Cellular and Molecular Immunology Research Unit, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand.
Watunyoo Buakaew, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
Paul J. Brindley, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
Saranyapin Potikanond, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
Krai Daowtak, Cellular and Molecular Immunology Research Unit, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand.
Yordhathai Thongsri, Cellular and Molecular Immunology Research Unit, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand.
Pachuen Potup, Cellular and Molecular Immunology Research Unit, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand.
Kanchana Usuwanthim, Cellular and Molecular Immunology Research Unit, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

4-4-2025

Journal

International journal of molecular sciences

Volume

26

Issue

7

DOI

10.3390/ijms26073388

Keywords

Moringa oleifera Lam.; TGF-β/SMAD2/3 pathway; anti-fibrotic effect; liver fibrosis; oleamide

Abstract

Moringa oleifera (MO) is a prominent plant in traditional medicine, widely recognized for its phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory properties. Liver fibrosis characterized by chronic inflammation and excessive extracellular matrix deposition may benefit from the therapeutic properties of MO. This report focuses on the potential of oleamide (OLA), a bioactive compound identified from MO, in mitigating liver fibrosis. The anti-fibrotic effects of OLA were evaluated by assessing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, gelatinase activity and the expression of genes and proteins associated with the TGF-β/SMAD2/3 pathway. The LX-2 human hepatic stellate cell line, in conjunction with TGF-β1, was employed to model fibrotic conditions. OLA treatment significantly reduced the production of pro-fibrotic effectors in the activated LX-2 cells. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated a high binding affinity of OLA to key proteins in the TGF-β/SMAD2/3 pathway, while qRT-PCR and Western blotting revealed that OLA suppressed the expression of COL1A1, COL4A1, SMAD2, SMAD3, SMAD4, MMP2, MMP9, ACTA2 and TIMP1. These findings indicate that OLA effectively attenuates the pro-inflammatory responses induced by TGF-β1 and inhibits the activation of LX-2 cells. Collectively, OLA holds significant potential as a therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis via the modulation of the TGF-β/SMAD2/3 signaling pathway.

APA Citation

Khongpiroon, Chavisa; Buakaew, Watunyoo; Brindley, Paul J.; Potikanond, Saranyapin; Daowtak, Krai; Thongsri, Yordhathai; Potup, Pachuen; and Usuwanthim, Kanchana, "Anti-Fibrotic Effect of Oleamide Identified from the Moringa oleifera Lam. Leaves via Inhibition of TGF-β1-Induced SMAD2/3 Signaling Pathway" (2025). GW Authored Works. Paper 7096.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/7096

Department

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine