Journal Article

Fermented Moringa oleifera leaves and Ganoderma lucidum mixtures ameliorate cognitive deficits in scopolamine-induced dementia rats by enhancing brain antioxidant and cholinergic functions

Zamroni, Yuliadi, Zapri, Nur Fatin Farhana, Aprizal, Ye Muhamad, Mohamad Yusof, Mohd Izwan, Mohamad Jamil, Norashirene, Mohamad Zin, Noor Syaffinaz Noor, Samsulrizal, Nurdiana, Emran Yusli, Nur Saffa Aini

2026

Overview

Lam. (Moringaceae) and (Curtis) P. Karst. (Ganodermataceae) are two natural resources with established neuroprotective properties. However, whether their combination is safe and has neuroprotective effects against dementia remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition, toxicity profile, and neuroprotective activity of fermented and mixture (FMG) in scopolamine-induced dementia model rats. FMG was produced by fermentation with . A state of cognitive impairment was induced in rats daily intraperitoneal administration of scopolamine (4 mg/kg) for 28 days. Following a two-week treatment period, cognitive function was assessed using the Y-maze. Postmortem analyses included biochemical assays to measure brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and oxidative stress markers, and histological examination of the hippocampus. LC-MS analysis revealed a rich phytochemical profile. The no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was 200 mg/kg/day, while the lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL) was 600 mg/kg/day. Treatment at the 200 mg/kg dose significantly reversed memory deficits, restoring spontaneous alternation from 29.1% in scopolamine-treated rats to 82.6% (  < 0.05). This behavioral recovery was correlated with a significant reduction in brain AChE activity, a normalization of lipid peroxidation (TBARS) levels, and the restoration of hippocampal neuronal architecture. The restorative effects of FMG are mediated by a dual mechanism involving the enhancement of central cholinergic and antioxidant systems. These results suggest that FMG possesses neuroprotective and antioxidant properties and could be a promising candidate for the management of cognitive deficits.

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis,Taylor & Francis Group
• Subject: Acetylcholinesterase - metabolism / Animals / Antioxidants - isolation & purification / Antioxidants - pharmacology / Bacillus subtilis-fermented mixture / Brain - drug effects / Brain - metabolism / Cognition - drug effects / Cognitive Dysfunction - drug therapy / Dementia - chemically induced / Dementia - drug therapy / Dementia - metabolism / Disease Models, Animal / Fermentation / Male / Maze Learning - drug effects / Moringa oleifera - chemistry / Neuroprotective Agents - isolation & purification / Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology / Neuroprotective Agents - toxicity / Oxidative Stress - drug effects / Plant Extracts - isolation & purification / Plant Extracts - pharmacology / Plant Extracts - toxicity / Plant Leaves / plant-fungi formulation / Rats / Rats, Sprague-Dawley / Rats, Wistar / Reishi - chemistry / Scopolamine / scopolamine-induced dementia rats / spatial learning and memory / subacute toxicity