Table 3.
Health benefits and mechanism of action demonstrated by Moringa oleifera polyphenols.
| Health Benefits | Sample Type | Model Type | Result Summary/Mechanisms | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Subcritical ethanolic leaves extract of flavonoids | DPPH and FRAP assay | FRAP assay = 0.95–1.35 mmolFeSO4/mg DPPH assay (IC50 value) = 0.7440 mg/L |
[57] |
| Antimicrobial | Aqueous leaf extract | Agar diffusion method | Inhibited the growth of E.coli, S. typhi and P.aeruginosa MIC: 10–20 mg/mL Large variation in antimicrobial activity (MIC for bacteria: 0.04–2.50 mg/mL and MIC for fungi: 0.16–>2.50 mg/mL) Coefficient of variability for bacteria in winter (75.2%) and summer (31.3%) Coefficient of variability for fungi in winter (19.2%) and summer (23.1%) Samples collected in winter had higher antifungal activity MBC: 20–40 mg/mL Inhibited the growth of some bacterial strains |
[72] |
| Acetone extract of 12 moringa tress harvested in different seasons | Two-fold serial dilution method | [73] | ||
| Different extract of moringa leaves | Well diffusion assay | [35] | ||
| Anticancerous | Moringa leaves powder | Colorectal carcinogensis model (24 male mice) | Suppressed the AOM/DSS-induced colorectal carcinogenesis with 5% w/v of moringa dose. Ethanolic extract inhibits the proliferation of C4-II and HeLa cervical cancer cells due to decrease in NF-kB and Bcl-xL levels in these cells Moringa leaves synergize with vesicular stomatitis virus for cervical cancer treatments by altering the pathways involved in proliferation, apoptosis and antiviral responses. Moringa leaves increased BCL-2 expression in both liver and kidney tissues thus decreasing the expression of caspase 3, caspase 9 and NKFβ markers. |
[32] |
| Different extract of moringa leaves | Cervical cancer cell lines | [74] | ||
| Methanolic extract | 48 male wistar rats | [75] | ||
| Antidiabetic | Aqueous leaf extract | Albino rats | 33.18% and 44.06% reduction in the blood sugar level of normoglycemic and hyperglycemic rats at a dose of 300 mg/kg after 6 h. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and post prandial blood glucose (PPPG) was reduced by 28% and 26%, respectively, with a daily dose of 8 g leaf powder for 40 days. |
[76] |
| Moringa leaves powder | Untreated Type-2 diabetic patients (30–60 years of age) | [77] | ||
| Immunomodulatory activity | Methanolic leaf extract | Wistar rats and swiss albino mice | Level of serum immunoglobulins increased, increase in adhesion of neutropenia, attenuation of cyclophosphamide-induced neutropenia. Cellular and humoral immune response stimulated at low doses. T helper cells, T cyctotoxic cells and B220+ cells were increased due to the presence of saponins and flavonoids. Restrict the development of herpes skin lesions and virus titers in brain were also reduced. Strong delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to inactivated HSV-1 antigen. Elevated interferon-γ production by HSV-1 antigen. CD11b+ and CD49b+ subpopulations of splenocytes also enhanced. |
[78] |
| Aqueous leaf extract | Mus musculus mice | [79] | ||
| Aqueous leaf extract | Ninety seven BALB/c female mice (Herpes simplex virus Type-I infected) | [80] | ||
| Antiarthritic | Ethanolic extract | Healthy Sprague–Dawley male rats (8–10 weeks old) with standard pellet diet | Moringa extract at a dose of 250 mg/Kg inhibits the CFA-induced arthritic paw edema. Significant decrease in arthritic index, the hematology profile was comparable to normal rats and significant higher effects than the CFA-control group. | [81] |
| Antinociceptic effect | Ethanolic extract | Healthy Sprague–Dawley male rats (8–10 weeks old) with standard pellet diet | Moringa extract at a dose of 500 mg/Kg showed a significant antinociceptic effect than indomethacin and the CFA-control group. | [81] |
| Hypertension | Moringa leaves powder | Sixty six male albino rats | Significant decrease in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure level of hypertensive rats, reduced the activity of arginase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (ACE) and higher antioxidant activity than hypertensive rats | [82] |
| Anti-obesity effects | Ethanolic extract | 3T3-L1 Mus musculus, mouse cell lines | The expression of adipogenesis related genes were downregulated, decreased accumulated of triglyceride, induced apoptosis of adipocyte cells. Bax, a pro-apoptotic protein was upregulated, BCL-2 an antiapototic protein was downregulated, increased activity of caspase-3-activity. |
[83] |
| Anti-lipogenic effect | Fermented Moringa oleifera leaves | Male peking ducks | Higher bodyweight, lower level of abdominal and subcutaneous fat, higher serum insulin. Hepatic lipid, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased, whereas high density lipoprotein cholesterol and leptin increased. Expression of lipogenesis-related genes in abdominal fat were downregulated. |
[84] |
DPPH: 2,2-dipheyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, FRAP: Ferric reducing antioxidant power, MIC: Minimum inhibitory concentration, MBC: Minimum bactericidal concentration, AOM/DSS: Azoxymethane/Dextran sodium sulfate, NF-kB: Nuclear factor kappa-B, Bcl-xL: B-cell lymphoma extra large, BCL-2: B-cell lymphoma 2, HSV-1: Herpes simplex virus-1, CFA: complete freund’s adjuvant.