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International Journal of Medical Sciences and Pharma Research
Open Access to Medical and Research
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Therapeutic benefits of Moringa oleifera: A Mini Review
Sunil Kumar Prajapati1*, Vijay Kumar Tilak2, Ram Chand Dhakar3, Rajeshwar Kamal Kant Arya4, Jitendra Nagar 5, Chaman Nagar 6
1 Professor, Institute of Pharmacy, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, India
2 Apex Professional University, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh-791102, India
3 Hospital Pharmacy, SRG Hospital & Medical College Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India-326001
4 Assistant Professor, Department of Pharma sciences, Kumaun University Nainital, India
6 B. J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Article Info: _________________________________________ Article History: Received 04 March 2020 Reviewed 27 April 2020 Accepted 23 May 2020 Published 15 June 2020 _________________________________________ Cite this article as: Prajapati SK, Tilak VK, Dhakar RC, Arya RKK, Nagar J, Nagar C, Therapeutic benefits of Moringa oleifera: A Mini Review, International Journal of Medical Sciences & Pharma Research, 2020; 6(2):1-4 |
Abstract ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ There are about thirteen species of Moringa trees in the family Moringaceae. Moringa oleifera Lam. (synonym: Moringa pterygosperma Gaertn.) is the most widely known species and reported many therapeutics uses in previous years. All part of the Moringa tree is useful in some way and people depends on it for their livelihood. The leaves of the Moringa tree are an excellent source of Nutrients like Minerals, Protein and Vitamins (A and C). Moringa tree has approximately 46 antioxidants and it is one of the cheapest sources of natural anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants supply the free atoms needed by the human body and mitigate the effect of free radicals. M. oleifera contains active compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, phenolics, and triterpenoids which possess antibacterial effects. Moringa oleifera has high mineral and protein content and has been previously investigated for its potential in treating different oral soft tissue diseases. Present review summarises the various medicinal uses of Moringa oleifera. Keywords: Moringa oleifera, anti-inflammatory, Oral diseases, anti-diabetic
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*Address for Correspondence: Dr. Sunil Kumar Prajapati, Professor, Institute of Pharmacy, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, India |
Introduction
Moringa oleifera is the most widely cultivated pan-tropical species of a monogeneric family, the Moringaceae, which is native to the sub-Himalayan tracts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Moringa oleifera is known by such regional names as benzolive, drumstick tree, kelor, marango, mlonge, mulangay, nébéday, saijhan, and sajna.1. Virtually every part of the tree is beneficial in some way and both rural and urban people depend on it for their livelihood. In developing tropical countries, Moringa trees have been used to combat malnutrition, especially among infants and nursing mothers 2,3. The leaves of the Moringa tree are an excellent source of Nutrients like Minerals, Protein and Vitamins (A and C) 4, 5, 6, Moringa has approximately 46 antioxidants and is one of the most powerful sources of natural anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants supply the free atoms needed by the human body and mitigate the effect of free radicals. M. oleifera contains active compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, phenolics, and triterpenoids which possess antibacterial effects.7
Therapeutic benefits of Moringa oleifera
Moringa has approximately 46 antioxidants and is one of the most powerful sources of natural anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants supply the free atoms needed by the human body and mitigate the effect of free radicals. M. oleifera contains active compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, phenolics, and triterpenoids which possess antibacterial effects hence it can be used as safe and cheap plant antimicrobial agent. The extract from leaves of Moringa oleifera has high mineral and protein content and its historic reputation as a traditional medicine for different diseases has been previously investigated for its potential in treating different oral soft tissue diseases 8,9.
As anti-diabetic agents
Utilization of the efficacy of moringa leaves developed in various dosage forms has also begun to be widely studied. The results showed that moringa leaves extract could be applied topically in the form of gels, ointments, and creams. The advantage of giving topical anti-inflammatory drug preparations is that it is easy to use because it can be directly applied to the inflamed area and has fast absorption, therefore, it can directly provide a therapeutic effect. Previous research has conducted an anti-inflammatory test of 5% moringa extract in gel preparations and found that inflammation was reduced by 47.09%.14 Similar research was also carried out using preparations in the form of cream of Moringa leaves extract with a concentration of 12%, and the results showed that the cream of Moringa leaves extract had a fairly good anti-inflammatory effect.15
Hepatoprotective Activity16
Alaaeldin A. Hamza et al investigated that the administration of M.O seed extract decreased the CCl4-induced elevation of serum aminotransferase activities and globulin level17. The elevations of hepatic hydroxyproline content and myeloperoxidase activity were also reduced by M.O treatment. Liver fibrosis was induced by the oral administration of 20% carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), twice weekly and for 8 weeks18. The biochemical and histological results showed that M.O. reduced liver damage as well as symptoms of liver fibrosis. S. Fakurazi et al showed that initiation of acetaminophen toxicities is believed to be promoted by oxidative stress during the event of overdosage. MO showed that the hepatoprotective activity gives significant histopathological analysis and reduction of level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ASP) in the group treat with MO compared to those treated with acetaminophen alone. The level of glutathione (GSH) was found to be restored in MO treated animal19-21
As Antimicrobial Agent
The leaf extracts of M. oleifera showed varying antimicrobial activity on wide range of microorganisms.
In a study by Singh et al. (2012), the antimicrobial activity of Moringa oleifera was examined using the main model Kirby-bauer disc diffusion method in which 50% of moringa oleifera leaf extract was used. The results showed that 50% ethanolic extract successfully displayed anti-bacterial activity however only little. Even at higher concentration, the extract displayed mild inhibitory activity and no activity at all against pseudomonas. 22
Hanaa Elgamily et al carried out a study to assess the antibacterial and antifungal potentials of different parts of Moringa oleifera plant using different extraction methods in attempts to formulate natural dental remedies from this plant. The different extracts of different parts of Moringa oleifera showed an antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans growth. The novel toothpaste of ethanolic leaves extract has antimicrobial and antifungal potential effects all selected strains.23
Another study indicated that E.coli was found to be equally sensitive to ethyl acetate, acetone and chloroform extracts and had the maximum antibacterial activity among the extracts. S.aureus was sensitive to all the extracts studied. The ethyl acetate had maximum antibacterial activity against S. aureus in comparison to the other extracts. The study revealed that S. gallinarum was also sensitive to all the extracts showing maximum antibacterial activity with ethyl acetate extracts and moderate and equal sensitivity to methanol and chloroform extracts. The ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extracts showed maximum and equal antibacterial activity against P.aeruginosa. The disc diffusion study revealed that both the Gram positive and Gram-negative organisms showed variablesensitivity to different extracts of M. oleifera. In general, ethyl acetate and acetone extracts showed maximum antibacterial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, S. gallinarum and P. aeruginosa. The antibacterial potential of different extracts of M. oleifera specially of those of ethyl acetate and acetone extracts, demand further in vitro and in vivo studies to exploit their antibacterial action in the treatment of bacterial diseases of man and animals24.
In Enamel Tissue Remineralization
Moringa oleifera extract contains the highest values of calcium and phosphate that are required for the remineralization process. Dental caries is closely related with cariogenic biofilm, an oral biofilm containing a high proportion of Streptococcus mutans 1. Generally, oral biofilm is structurally and functionally organized and contains a balance of normal flora and pathogenic bacteria like S. mutans 25. Su-Kyung Jwa has studied the antimicrobial effects of the M. oleifera leaf extracts on S. mutans and formation of cariogenic biofilm. Extract from M. oleifera leaves was derived using distilled water (DW) and ethyl alcohol (EtOH). S. mutans susceptibility assays were performed for each extract. Cariogenic biofilm was formed with or without DW and EtOH extract, and cariogenic biofilm was treated with both extracts. Both extracts showed antimicrobial activity against S. mutans and inhibited formation of cariogenic biofilm. 26
Table 1: Some reported work of Moringa oleifera 7
S.N. |
Author |
Objective of study |
Application |
Ref |
1 |
Su-Kyung Jwa et 2019 |
to investigate the antimicrobial effects of the M. oleifera leaf extracts |
extracts showed antimicrobial activity against S. mutans and inhibited formation of cariogenic biofilm |
|
2 |
Rao P K, et al 2011 |
To assess the antibacterial activity of isolated compounds from |
All the isolated compounds from M. oleifera were active against Streptococcus mutans (MTCC 497), Streptococcus salivarius, Lactobacillus fermentum, Streptococcus anginosus, Streptococcus gordonii, Lactobacillus acidophilus. |
27 |
3 |
Carranza J B, 2017 |
To identify the secondary compounds of three varieties of Moringa oleifera Lam. Extracts namely; Native, Chinese, and Yard Long malunggay using phytochemical analysis |
The extracts of moringa varieties contain flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins that are known to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties; thus, these have potential natural components in the manufacture of toothpastes |
28 |
Conclusion
M. oleifera contains active compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, phenolics, and triterpenoids which possess antibacterial effects hence it can be used as safe and cheap plant antimicrobial agent. The extract from leaves of Moringa oleifera has high mineral and protein content. As traditional medicine it has potential in treating different oral soft tissue diseases. Study by Nawal Aidaros et al concluded that Moringa oleifera enhanced the remineralization process of demineralized enamel and dentin, and thus, might be considered as an effective natural remineralizing agent11. Further research on Moringa oleifera needed to exploit the pharmacological uses for management and prevention of oral disease.
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