Protective effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. extract against ethyl Methanesulphonate-induced oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster

In the present study, Drosophila melanogaster larvae were exposed to 25 µM Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) alone and in combination with graded concentrations of Moringa oleifera leaf extract (1.3 × 10-³, 2.7 × 10-³, 4 × 10-³, and 5.3 × 10-³ g/ml) to evaluate the protective role of Moringa against EMS-induced toxicity. Biochemical assays demonstrated that EMS exposure caused a significant imbalance in antioxidant enzymes, particularly catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), glutathione S transferase (GST) reflecting elevated oxidative stress. Co-treatment with Moringa oleifera extract mitigated these effects in a dose-dependent manner, restoring enzymatic activities and improving larval survivability. GC–MS profiling of Moringa extract revealed the presence of diverse bioactive phytochemicals, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, sterols, and terpenoids, which are known for their antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties.The findings suggest that Moringa supplementation confers effective protection against EMS-induced oxidative damage in Drosophila, supporting its potential as a natural antioxidant.