4(α-l-Rhamnosyloxy)-benzyl
isothiocyanate (
glucomoringin isothiocyanate;
GMG-ITC) is released from the precursor 4(α-l-rhamnosyloxy)-benzyl
glucosinolate (glucomoringin;
GMG) by
myrosinase (β-thioglucoside glucohydrolase; E.C. 3.2.1.147) catalyzed hydrolysis.
GMG is an uncommon member of the
glucosinolate group as it presents a unique characteristic consisting in a second glycosidic residue within the side chain. It is a typical
glucosinolate found in large amounts in the seeds of Moringa oleifera
Lam., the most widely distributed plant of the Moringaceae family.
GMG was purified from seed-cake of M. oleifera and was hydrolyzed by
myrosinase at neutral pH in order to form the corresponding
GMG-ITC. This bioactive
phytochemical can play a key role in counteracting the inflammatory response connected to the oxidative-related mechanisms as well as in the control of the neuronal cell death process, preserving spinal cord tissues after injury in mice.
Spinal cord trauma was induced in mice by the application of vascular clips (force of 24g) for 1 min., via four-level T5-T8 after
laminectomy. In particular, the purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamic changes occurring in the spinal cord after ip treatment with bioactive
GMG-ITC produced 15 min before use from
myrosinase-catalyzed hydrolysis of
GMG (10mg/kg body weight+5 μl Myr mouse/day). The following parameters, such as histological damage, distribution of
reticular fibers in connective tissue, nuclear factor (NF)-κB translocation and nuclear factor of kappa light
polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha (IκB-α) degradation, expression of inducible
Nitric Oxide Synthases (iNOS), as well as apoptosis, were evaluated. In conclusion, our results show a protective effect of bioactive
GMG-ITC on the secondary damage, following
spinal cord injury, through an
antioxidant mechanism of neuroprotection. Therefore, the bioactive
phytochemical GMG-ITC freshly produced before use by
myrosinase-catalyzed hydrolysis of pure
GMG, could prove to be useful in the treatment of
spinal cord trauma.