1: Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2007 Apr 1;55(2):173/8. Epub 2006 Dec 3.
Interfacial properties and fluorescence of a coagulating protein extracted from
Moringa oleifera seeds and its interaction with sodium dodecyl sulphate.
Maikokera R, Kwaambwa HM.
University of Botswana, Department of Chemistry, Private Bag UB 00704, Gaborone,
Botswana.
The surfactant behaviour of aqueous coagulating protein extracted from Moringa
oleifera seeds has been investigated by surface tension measurements. The
interaction of the coagulant protein with an anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl
sulphate (SDS) has been monitored by surface tension and intrinsic protein
fluorescence measurements. The extracted protein shows some weak surface
activity at low concentrations. To achieve maximum surface activity (i.e.
maximum reduction in surface tension of water), substantially higher
concentrations of protein are required. The coagulant protein/SDS interaction
scheme did not exhibit the behaviour of weakly interacting polymer/surfactant
systems and the SDS interacts in a monomeric form with the protein. The
association process of SDS with the coagulant protein is supported by protein
fluorescence measurements. SDS has an effect on the fluorescence of the
coagulant protein indicating that the local environment of tryptophan in the
protein changes as SDS concentration below its critical micelle concentration is
increased. These results have led us to the conclusions that: (1) the protein
extracted from M. oleifera seeds has significant surfactant behaviour; (2) the
coagulant protein interacts strongly with SDS and the protein might have
specific binding sites for SDS; (3) there is formation of protein/SDS complex.
PMID: 17207612 [PubMed / in process]
2: Indian J Exp Biol. 2006 Nov;44(11):898/901.
Evaluation of aqueous leaves extract of Moringa oleifera Linn for wound healing
in albino rats.
Rathi BS, Bodhankar SL, Baheti AM.
Department of Pharmacology, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Poona College
of Pharmacy and Research Centre, Kothrud, Pune 411 038, India.
badalrathi@rediffmail.com
Aqueous extract of leaves of M. oleifera was investigated and rationalised for
its wound healing activity. The aqueous extract was studied at dose level of 300
mg/kg body weight using resutured incision; excision and dead space wound models
in rats. Significant increase in wound closure rate, skin/breaking strength,
granuloma breaking strength, hydroxyproline content, granuloma dry weight and
decrease in scar area was observed. The prohealing actions seem to be due to
increased collagen deposition as well as better alignment and maturation. From
the results obtained, it may be concluded that the aqueous extract of M.
oleifera has significant wound healing property.
PMID: 17205710 [PubMed / in process]
3: J Hazard Mater. 2006 Nov 9; [Epub ahead of print]
Pretreatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME) using Moringa oleifera seeds as
natural coagulant.
Bhatia S, Othman Z, Ahmad AL.
School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia,
Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia.
Moringa oleifera seeds, an environmental friendly and natural coagulant are
reported for the pretreatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME). In
coagulation/flocculation process, the M. oleifera seeds after oil extraction
(MOAE) are an effective coagulant with the removal of 95% suspended solids and
52.2% reduction in the chemical oxygen demand (COD). The combination of MOAE
with flocculant (NALCO 7751), the suspended solids removal increased to 99.3%
and COD reduction was 52.5%. The coagulation/flocculation process at the
temperature of 30 degrees C resulted in better suspended solids removal and COD
reduction compared to the temperature of 40, 55 and 70 degrees C. The MOAE
combined with flocculant (NALCO 7751) reduced the sludge volume index (SVI) to
210mL/g with higher recovery of dry mass of sludge (87.25%) and water (50.3%).
PMID: 17141409 [PubMed / as supplied by publisher]
4: Chemosphere. 2007 Jan;66(10):1829/38. Epub 2006 Nov 15.
Low cost sorbents for the removal of methyl parathion pesticide from aqueous
solutions.
Akhtar M, Hasany SM, Bhanger MI, Iqbal S.
National Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh,
Jamshoro 76080, Pakistan.
Sorptive potential of selected agricultural waste materials i.e. rice (Oryza
sativa) bran (RB), bagasse fly ash (BFA) of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum),
Moringa oleifera pods (MOP) and rice husk (RH) for the removal of methyl
parathion pesticide (MP) from surface and ground waters has been investigated.
Optimization of operating parameters of sorption process, i.e. sorbent dose,
agitation time, pH, initial concentration of sorbate, and temperature have been
studied. The sorption data fitted to Freundlich, Langmuir and
Dubinin/Radushkevich (D/R) sorption isotherms. The maximum capacities of RB,
BFA, MOP and RH for MP were calculated to be 3.6+//0.8, 5.3+//1.4, 5.2+//1.5 and
4.7+//1.0mmolg(/1) by Freundlich, 0.39+//0.009, 0.39+//0.005, 0.36+//0.004 and
0.35+//0.008mmolg(/1) by Langmuir and 0.9+//0.08, 1.0+//0.10, 1.0+//0.10 and
0.9+//0.07mmolg(/1) by D/R isotherms respectively, employing 0.1g of each
sorbent, at pH 6, 90min agitation time and at 303K. Application of first order
Lagergren and Morris/Weber equations to the kinetic data yielded correlation
coefficients, close to unity. Thermodynamic parameters of sorption process, i.e.
DeltaH, DeltaS and DeltaG were computed and their negative values indicated the
exothermic and spontaneous nature of sorption process. The pesticide may be
stripped by sonication with methanol, making the regeneration and reutilization
of sorbents promising. The sorbents investigated exhibited their potential
applications in water decontamination, treatment of industrial and agricultural
waste waters.
PMID: 17109916 [PubMed / in process]
5: Phytother Res. 2007 Jan;21(1):17/25.
Moringa oleifera: a food plant with multiple medicinal uses.
Anwar F, Latif S, Ashraf M, Gilani AH.
Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad/38040, Pakistan.
anwar.gilani@aku.edu
Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae) is a highly valued plant, distributed in many
countries of the tropics and subtropics. It has an impressive range of medicinal
uses with high nutritional value. Different parts of this plant contain a
profile of important minerals, and are a good source of protein, vitamins,
beta/carotene, amino acids and various phenolics. The Moringa plant provides a
rich and rare combination of zeatin, quercetin, beta/sitosterol, caffeoylquinic
acid and kaempferol. In addition to its compelling water purifying powers and
high nutritional value, M. oleifera is very important for its medicinal value.
Various parts of this plant such as the leaves, roots, seed, bark, fruit,
flowers and immature pods act as cardiac and circulatory stimulants, possess
antitumor, antipyretic, antiepileptic, antiinflammatory, antiulcer,
antispasmodic, diuretic, antihypertensive, cholesterol lowering, antioxidant,
antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial and antifungal activities, and are
being employed for the treatment of different ailments in the indigenous system
of medicine, particularly in South Asia. This review focuses on the detailed
phytochemical composition, medicinal uses, along with pharmacological properties
of different parts of this multipurpose tree.
Publication Types:
Review
PMID: 17089328 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
6: Cell Biol Int. 2007 Jan;31(1):44/56. Epub 2006 Sep 15.
Concomitant administration of Moringa oleifera seed powder in the remediation of
arsenic/induced oxidative stress in mouse.
Gupta R, Dubey DK, Kannan GM, Flora SJ.
Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Defence Research and Development
Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior 474 002, M.P., India.
Contamination of ground water by arsenic has become a cause of global public
health concern. In West Bengal, India, almost 6 million people are endemically
exposed to inorganic arsenic by drinking heavily contaminated groundwater
through hand/pumped tube wells. No safe, effective and specific preventive or
therapeutic measures for treating arsenic poisoning are available. We recently
reported that some of the herbal extracts possess properties effective in
reducing arsenic concentration and in restoring some of the toxic effects of
arsenic in animal models. Moringa oleifera Lamarack (English: Horseradish/tree,
Drumstick/tree, Hindi: Saijan, Sanskrit: Shigru) belongs to the Moringaceae
family, is generally known in the developing world as a vegetable, a medicinal
plant and a source of vegetable oil. The objective of the present study was to
determine whether Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) seed powder could restore
arsenic induced oxidative stress and reduce body arsenic burden. Exposure to
arsenic (2.5mg/kg, intraperitoneally for 6weeks) led to a significant increase
in the levels of tissue reactive oxygen species (ROS), metallothionein (MT) and
thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) which were accompanied by a
decrease in the activities in the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide
dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in mice. Arsenic
exposed mice also exhibited liver injury as reflected by reduced acid
phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate aminotransferase
(AST) activities and altered heme synthesis pathway as shown by inhibited blood
delta/aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (delta/ALAD) activity. Co/administration
of M. oleifera seed powder (250 and 500mg/kg, orally) with arsenic significantly
increased the activities of SOD, catalase, GPx with elevation in reduced GSH
level in tissues (liver, kidney and brain). These changes were accompanied by
approximately 57%, 64% and 17% decrease in blood ROS, liver metallothionein (MT)
and lipid peroxidation respectively in animal co/administered with M. oleifera
and arsenic. Another interesting observation has been the reduced uptake of
arsenic in soft tissues (55% in blood, 65% in liver, 54% in kidneys and 34% in
brain) following administration of M. oleifera seed powder (particularly at the
dose of 500mg/kg). It can thus be concluded from the present study that
concomitant administration of M. oleifera seed powder with arsenic could
significantly protect animals from oxidative stress and in reducing tissue
arsenic concentration. Administration of M. oleifera seed powder thus could also
be beneficial during chelation therapy with a thiol chelator.
PMID: 17055307 [PubMed / in process]
7: J Hazard Mater. 2006 Aug 25; [Epub ahead of print]
Innovative physico/chemical treatment of wastewater incorporating Moringa
oleifera seed coagulant.
Bhuptawat H, Folkard GK, Chaudhari S.
Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology
Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India.
Moringa oleifera is a pan tropical, multipurpose tree whose seeds contain a high
quality edible oil (up to 40% by weight) and water soluble proteins that act as
effective coagulants for water and wastewater treatment. The use of this natural
coagulant material has not yet realised its potential. A water extract of M.
oleifera seed was applied to a wastewater treatment sequence comprising
coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation/sand filtration. The study was laboratory
based using an actual wastewater. Overall COD removals of 50% were achieved at
both 50 and 100mg/l M. oleifera doses. When 50 and 100mg/l seed doses were
applied in combination with 10mg/l of alum, COD removal increased to 58 and 64%,
respectively. The majority of COD removal occurred during the filtration
process. In the tests incorporating alum, sludge generation and filter head loss
increased by factors of 3 and 2, respectively. These encouraging treatment
results indicate that this may be the first treatment application that can move
to large scale adoption. The simple water extract may be obtained at minimal
cost from the presscake residue remaining after oil extraction from the seed.
The regulatory compliance issues of adopting 'new materials' for wastewater
treatment are significantly less stringent than those applying to the production
of potable water.
PMID: 16987603 [PubMed / as supplied by publisher]
8: J Hazard Mater. 2006 Jul 14; [Epub ahead of print]
Sorption potential of Moringa oleifera pods for the removal of organic
pollutants from aqueous solutions.
Akhtar M, Moosa Hasany S, Bhanger MI, Iqbal S.
National Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh,
Jamshoro/76080, Pakistan.
Moringa oleifera pods Lamarck (Drumstick or Horseradish) is a multipurpose
medium or small size tree from sub/Himalayan regions of north/west India and
indigenous to many parts of Asia, Africa, South America, and in the Pacific and
Caribbean Islands. Its pods (MOP) have been employed as an inexpensive and
effective sorbent for the removal of organics, i.e., benzene, toluene,
ethylbenzene and cumene (BTEC) from aqueous solutions using HPLC method. Effect
of different parameters, i.e., sorbent dose 0.05/0.8g, 25cm(/3) agitation time
5/120min, pH 1/10, temperature 283/308K and concentration of sorbate
(1.3/13)x10(/3), (1.1/11)x10(/3), (0.9/9)x10(/3), (0.8/8)x10(/3)moldm(/3), on
the sorption potential of MOP for BTEC have been investigated. The pore area and
average pore diameter of the MOP by BET method using nitrogen as a standard are
calculated to be 28.06+//0.8m(2)g(/1) and 86.2+//1.3nm respectively. Freundlich,
Langumir and Dubinin/Radushkevich (D/R) sorption isotherms were employed to
evaluate the sorption capacity of MOP. Sorption capacities of BTEC onto MOP have
been found to be 46+//10, 84+//9, 101+//4, 106+//32mmolg(/1) by Freundlich,
8+//0.1, 9+//0.1, 10+//0.3, 9+//0.1mmolg(/1) by Langumir and 15+//1, 21+//1,
23+//2, 22+//3mmolg(/1) by D/R isotherms respectively, from BTEC solutions at
303K. While the mean energy of sorption process 9.6+//0.3, 9.2+//0.2, 9.3+//0.3,
9.5+//0.4kJmol(/1) for BTEC is calculated by D/R isotherm only. Rate constant of
BTEC onto MOP 0.033+//0.003, 0.030+//0.002, 0.029+//0.002, 0.027+//0.002min(/1)
at solution concentration of 1.3x10(/3), 1.1x10(/3), 0.9x10(/3) and
0.8x10(/3)moldm(/3) and at 303K have been calculated by employing Lagergren
equation. Thermodynamic parameters DeltaH /8+//0.4, /10+//0.6, /11+//0.7,
/11+//0.7kJmol(/1), DeltaS /22+//2, /26+//2, /27+//2, /29+//3Jmol(/1)K(/1) and
DeltaG(303K) /0.9+//0.2, /1.9+//0.2, /2.3+//0.1 and /2.6+//0.2kJmol(/1) were
also estimated for BTEC respectively at temperatures 283/308K. The negative
values of DeltaH, DeltaS and DeltaG suggest exothermic, stable (with no
structural changes at solid/liquid interface) and spontaneous nature of sorption
process under optimized conditions. MOP has been used extensively to accrue and
then to preconcentrate benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene in wastewater sample.
PMID: 16930826 [PubMed / as supplied by publisher]
9: J Hazard Mater. 2006 Dec 1;138(3):604/13. Epub 2006 Jun 6.
Sorption of lead from aqueous solution by chemically modified carbon adsorbents.
Nadeem M, Mahmood A, Shahid SA, Shah SS, Khalid AM, McKay G.
Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Punjab,
Pakistan. nadeem_waterchemist@yahoo.com
An indigenously prepared, steam activated and chemically modified carbon from
husk and pods of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera), an agricultural waste, was
comparatively examined as an adsorbent for the removal of lead from aqueous
solutions. Studies were conducted as a function of contact time, initial metal
concentration, dose of adsorbent, agitation speed, particle size and pH. Maximum
uptake capacities were found to be, 98.89, 96.58, 91.8, 88.63, 79.43% for
cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), phosphoric, sulfuric, hydrochloric acid
treated and untreated carbon adsorbents, respectively. Bangham, pseudo/first/
and second/order, intra/particle diffusion equations were implemented to express
the sorption mechanism by utilized adsorbents. Adsorption rate of lead ions was
found to be considerably faster for chemically modified adsorbents than
unmodified. The results of adsorption were fitted to both the Langmuir and
Freundlich models. Satisfactory agreement between the metal uptake capacities by
the adsorbents at different time intervals was expressed by the correlation
coefficient (R(2)). The Langmuir model represented the sorption process better
than the Freundlich one, with R(2) values ranging from 0.994 to 0.998.
PMID: 16839677 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
10: Med Chem. 2005 Jul;1(4):327/33.
Bangladeshi medicinal plant extracts inhibiting molecular interactions between
nuclear factors and target DNA sequences mimicking NF/kappaB binding sites.
Lampronti I, Khan MT, Bianchi N, Ather A, Borgatti M, Vizziello L, Fabbri E,
Gambari R.
ER/GenTech, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferrara
University, Via L. Borsari, 46, 44100 Ferrara, Italy.
Several medicinal plants can be employed to produce extracts exhibiting
biological effects. The aim of this work was to verify the ability of extracts
derived from different medicinal plants of Bangladesh in interfering with
specific DNA/protein interactions. The rationale for this study is based on the
observation that alteration of gene transcription represents a very promising
approach to control the expression of selected genes and could be obtained using
different molecules acting on the interactions between DNA and transcription
factors (TFs). We have analysed the antiproliferative activity of extracts from
the medicinal plants Hemidesmus indicus, Polyalthia longifolia, Aphanamixis
polystachya, Moringa oleifera, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Paederia foetida, Cassia
sophera, Hygrophila auriculata and Ocimum sanctum. Antiproliferative activity
was assayed on different human cell lines, including erythroleukemia K562,
B/lymphoid Raji, T/lymphoid Jurkat and erythroleukemia HEL cell lines. We
employed the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) as a suitable technique
for the identification of plant extracts altering the binding between
transcription factors and the specific DNA elements. We found that low
concentrations of Hemidesmus indicus, Polyalthia longifolia, Moringa oleifera
and Lagerstroemia speciosa, and very low concentrations of Aphanamixis
polystachya extracts inhibit the interactions between nuclear factors and target
DNA elements mimicking sequences recognized by the nuclear factor kappaB
(NF/kappaB). On the contrary, high amount of extracts from Paederia foetida,
Cassia sophera, Hygrophila auriculata or Ocimum sanctum were unable to inhibit
NF/kappaB/DNA interactions. Extracts inhibiting both NF/kappaB binding activity
and tumor cell growth might be a source for anti/tumor compounds, while extracts
inhibiting NF/kappaB/DNA interactions with lower effects on cell growth, could
be of interest in the search of compounds active in inflammatory diseases, for
which inhibition of NF/kappaB binding activity without toxic effects should be
obtained.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16789890 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
11: Bioresour Technol. 2007 Jan;98(2):474/7. Epub 2006 Feb 3.
Ternary biosorption studies of Cd(II), Cr(III) and Ni(II) on shelled Moringa
oleifera seeds.
Sharma P, Kumari P, Srivastava MM, Srivastava S.
Department of Chemistry, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Dayalbagh, Agra 282
005, India.
Competitive biosorption of Cd(II), Cr(III) and Ni(II) on unmodified shelled
Moringa oleifera seeds (SMOS) present in ternary mixture were compared with the
single metal solution. The extent of adsorption capacity of the ternary metal
ions tested on unmodified SMOS was low (10/20%) as compared to single metal
ions. SMOS removed the target metal ions in the selectivity order of Cd(II) >
Cr(III) > Ni(II). Sorption equilibria, calculated from adsorption data,
explained favorable performance of biosorption system. Regeneration of exhausted
biomass was also attempted for several cycles with a view to restore the sorbent
to its original state.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16459076 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
12: J Chromatogr A. 2006 Feb 10;1105(1/2):111/4. Epub 2005 Aug 10.
High/performance liquid chromatography method to measure alpha/ and
gamma/tocopherol in leaves, flowers and fresh beans from Moringa oleifera.
Sanchez/Machado DI, Lopez/Cervantes J, Vazquez NJ.
Departamento de Biotecnologia y Ciencias Alimentarias, Instituto Tecnologico de
Sonora, P.O. Box 541, Antonio Caso s/n, Col. Villa ITSON, 85139 Cd. Obregon,
Sonora, Mexico.
A high/performance liquid chromatography method for the microscale determination
of alpha/ and gamma/tocopherol in leaves, flowers and fresh beans from Moringa
oleifera is reported. The method includes microscale saponification and
extraction with n/hexane. Optimized conditions for reversed/phase HPLC with UV
detection were as follows: column, 25 cm x 0.46 cm, Exil ODS 5/microm; column
temperature, 25 degrees C; mobile phase, a 20:80 (v/v) mixture of
methanol:acetonitrile; flow rate, 1.0 ml/min. With these conditions, method
precision (relative standard deviation) was 5.6% for alpha/tocopherol and 4.9%
for gamma/tocopherol. We used this method to measure alpha/ and gamma/tocopherol
in samples from M. oleifera as part of nutritional studies in edible plants
cultivated in the Northwest Mexico.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
Validation Studies
PMID: 16439255 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
13: Bioresour Technol. 2007 Jan;98(1):232/6. Epub 2006 Jan 6.
Anti/fungal activity of crude extracts and essential oil of Moringa oleifera
Lam.
Chuang PH, Lee CW, Chou JY, Murugan M, Shieh BJ, Chen HM.
Institute of Bioagricultural Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan, ROC.
Investigations were carried out to evaluate the therapeutic properties of the
seeds and leaves of Moringa oleifera Lam as herbal medicines. Ethanol extracts
showed anti/fungal activities in vitro against dermatophytes such as
Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, and
Microsporum canis. GC/MS analysis of the chemical composition of the essential
oil from leaves showed a total of 44 compounds. Isolated extracts could be of
use for the future development of anti/skin disease agents.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16406607 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
14: J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Apr 21;105(1/2):306/11. Epub 2006 Jan 4.
Effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. root/wood on ethylene glycol induced
urolithiasis in rats.
Karadi RV, Gadge NB, Alagawadi KR, Savadi RV.
Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, K.L.E.S's College of Pharmacy,
J.N.M.C. Campus, Nehru Nagar, Belgaum 590010, Karnataka, India.
rvkaradi@yahoo.com
In India, drumstick (Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae)) is commonly used as a
phytotherapeutic agent. The effect of oral administration of aqueous and
alcoholic extract of Moringa oleifera root/wood on calcium oxalate urolithiasis
has been studied in male Wistar albino rats. Ethylene glycol feeding resulted in
hyperoxaluria as well as increased renal excretion of calcium and phosphate.
Supplementation with aqueous and alcoholic extract of Moringa oleifera root/wood
significantly reduced the elevated urinary oxalate, showing a regulatory action
on endogenous oxalate synthesis. The increased deposition of stone forming
constituents in the kidneys of calculogenic rats was also significantly lowered
by curative and preventive treatment using aqueous and alcoholic extracts. The
results indicate that the root/wood of Moringa oleifera is endowed with
antiurolithiatic activity.
PMID: 16386862 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
15: J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 2005 Dec;32(11/12):521/6. Epub 2005 Oct 8.
Arsenic removal from the aqueous system using plant biomass: a bioremedial
approach.
Kumari P, Sharma P, Srivastava S, Srivastava MM.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Dayalbagh Educational Institute,
Dayalbagh, 282005 Agra, India.
Metal species released into the environment by technological activities tend to
persist indefinitely, circulating and eventually accumulating throughout the
food chain, thus becoming a serious threat to the environment. Environment
pollution by toxic metals occurs globally through military, industrial, and
agricultural processes and waste disposal. Bioremediation processes are the
target of recent research and are considered low/cost, ecofriendly methods to
alleviate the current problems of water decontamination, particularly for remote
and rural areas. The present piece of work reports the unexploited sorption
properties of the powdered seed of the plant Moringa oleifera (SMOS) for the
removal of Arsenic [As(III) and As(V)] from aqueous solutions. Sorption studies,
using standard practices, result in the standardization of optimum conditions
such as biomass dosages (2.0 g), metal concentrations (25 ppm), contact time (60
min) and volume of the test solutions (200 ml) at pH 7.5, for As(III) and pH 2.5
for As(V). Maximum sorption for As(III) and As(V) species is 60.21 and 85.6%,
respectively. Protein/Amino acid/Arsenic interactions are found to play an
important role in the biosorption process using plant biomass SMOS.
Publication Types:
Evaluation Studies
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16215766 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
16: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2006 May;70(5):526/32. Epub 2005 Oct 8.
Single/step ion exchange purification of the coagulant protein from Moringa
oleifera seed.
Ghebremichael KA, Gunaratna KR, Dalhammar G.
Land and Water Resources Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH),
Brinellvagen 32, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
The coagulant protein from Moringa oleifera (MO) seed was purified using a
single/step batch ion exchange (IEX) method. Adsorption and elution parameters
were optimized. Impact of the purification on the reduction of organic and
nutrient release to the water was studied. The matrix was equilibrated using
ammonium acetate buffer, and the optimum ionic strength of NaCl for elution was
0.6 M. The time for adsorption equilibrium was between 90 and 120 min. Maximum
adsorption capacity of the matrix, estimated with the Langmuir model, was 68 mg
protein/g adsorbent. The purified protein does not release organic and nutrient
loads to the water, which are the main concerns of the crude extract. This work
suggests that a readily scalable single/step IEX purification method can be used
to produce the coagulant protein and it can be carried out with locally
available facilities. This will promote the use of MO in large water treatment
plants and other industries.
PMID: 16215716 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
17: Bioresour Technol. 2006 Sep;97(13):1455/60. Epub 2005 Oct 4.
Effects of storage conditions of Moringa oleifera seeds on its performance in
coagulation.
Katayon S, Noor MJ, Asma M, Ghani LA, Thamer AM, Azni I, Ahmad J, Khor BC,
Suleyman AM.
Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor.
Moringa oleifera is a plant whose seeds have coagulation properties for treating
water and wastewater. In this study the coagulation efficiency of Moringa
oleifera kept in different storage conditions were studied. The Moringa oleifera
seeds were stored at different conditions and durations; open container and
closed container at room temperature (28 degrees C) and refrigerator (3 degrees
C) for durations of 1, 3 and 5 months. Comparison between turbidity removal
efficiency of Moringa oleifera kept in refrigerator and room temperature
revealed that there was no significant difference between them. The Moringa
oleifera kept in refrigerator and room temperature for one month showed higher
turbidity removal efficiency, compared to those kept for 3 and 5 months, at both
containers. The coagulation efficiency of Moringa oleifera was found to be
dependent on initial turbidity of water samples. Highest turbidity removals were
obtained for water with very high initial turbidity. In summary coagulation
efficiency of Moringa oleifera was found independent of storage temperature and
container, however coagulation efficiency of Moringa oleifera decreased as
storage duration increased. In addition, Moringa oleifera can be used as a
potential coagulant especially for very high turbidity water.
PMID: 16213137 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
18: BMJ. 2005 Oct 1;331(7519):781.
Making dirty water drinkable: ...as is the drumstick tree.
Kumar A, Kumar CJ.
Publication Types:
Letter
PMID: 16195311 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
19: J Physiol Biochem. 2005 Jun;61(2):371/9.
Effects of oral administration of benzylamine on glucose tolerance and lipid
metabolism in rats.
Bour S, Visentin V, Prevot D, Daviaud D, Saulnier/Blache JS, Guigne C, Valet P,
Carpene C.
INSERM U586, IFR 31, Bat L3, CHU Rangueil, 31432 Toulouse cedex 9, France.
Repeated administration of benzylamine plus vanadate have been reported to
exhibit anti/hyperglycemic effects in different models of diabetic rats.
Likewise oral treatment with Moringa oleifera extracts which contain the
alkaloid moringine, identical to benzylamine, has also been shown to prevent
hyperglycemia in alloxan/induced diabetic rats. With these observations we
tested whether prolonged oral administration of benzylamine could interact with
glucose and/or lipid metabolism. Seven week old male Wistar rats were treated
for seven weeks with benzylamine 2.9 g/l in drinking water and were submitted to
glucose tolerance tests. A slight decrease in water consumption was observed in
benzylamine/treated animals while there was no change in body and adipose tissue
weights at the end of treatment. Blood glucose and plasma insulin,
triacylglycerol or cholesterol levels were not modified. However, benzylamine
treatment resulted in a decrease in plasma free fatty acids in both fed and
fasted conditions. Benzylamine treatment improved glucose tolerance as shown by
the reduction of hyperglycemic response to intra/peritoneal glucose load. Oral
benzylamine treatment did not alter the response of adipocytes to insulin nor to
insulin/like actions of benzylamine plus vanadate, via in vitro activation of
glucose transport or inhibition of lipolysis. This work demonstrates for the
first time that oral administration of benzylamine alone influences glucose and
lipid metabolism. However, these results obtained in normoglycemic rats require
to be confirmed in diabetic models.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16180335 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
20: Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2005 Sep;49(9):3847/57.
Structure/function characterization and optimization of a plant/derived
antibacterial peptide.
Suarez M, Haenni M, Canarelli S, Fisch F, Chodanowski P, Servis C, Michielin O,
Freitag R, Moreillon P, Mermod N.
Institute of Biotechnology, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Crushed seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree have been used traditionally as
natural flocculants to clarify drinking water. We previously showed that one of
the seed peptides mediates both the sedimentation of suspended particles such as
bacterial cells and a direct bactericidal activity, raising the possibility that
the two activities might be related. In this study, the conformational modeling
of the peptide was coupled to a functional analysis of synthetic derivatives.
This indicated that partly overlapping structural determinants mediate the
sedimentation and antibacterial activities. Sedimentation requires a positively
charged, glutamine/rich portion of the peptide that aggregates bacterial cells.
The bactericidal activity was localized to a sequence prone to form a
helix/loop/helix structural motif. Amino acid substitution showed that the
bactericidal activity requires hydrophobic proline residues within the
protruding loop. Vital dye staining indicated that treatment with peptides
containing this motif results in bacterial membrane damage. Assembly of multiple
copies of this structural motif into a branched peptide enhanced antibacterial
activity, since low concentrations effectively kill bacteria such as Pseudomonas
aeruginosa and Streptococcus pyogenes without displaying a toxic effect on human
red blood cells. This study thus identifies a synthetic peptide with potent
antibacterial activity against specific human pathogens. It also suggests partly
distinct molecular mechanisms for each activity. Sedimentation may result from
coupled flocculation and coagulation effects, while the bactericidal activity
would require bacterial membrane destabilization by a hydrophobic loop.
Publication Types:
In Vitro
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16127062 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
21: Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2005 Jun;56(4):287/91.
Phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of some food and medicinal plants.
Bajpai M, Pande A, Tewari SK, Prakash D.
Nutraceutical Chemistry, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
To identify promising sources of antioxidants, some food and medicinal plants
were studied for total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity. The leaves,
bark and fruits of Terminalia arjuna, Terminalia bellerica, Terminalia chebula
and Terminalia muelleri, the leaves and fruits of Phyllanthus emblica, and the
seeds of Syzygium cumini were found to have high total phenolic contents
(72.0/167.2 mg/g) and high antioxidant activity (69.6/90.6%). Leaves of
Eucalyptusglobulus were a rich source of rutin, Moringa oleifera for kaempferol,
aerial parts of Centella asiatica for quercetin, fruits of T. bellerica and T.
chebula for gallic acid, and bark of T. arjuna, leaves and fruits of T.
bellerica and bark, leaves and fruits of T. muelleri for ellagic acid.
PMID: 16096138 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
22: J Water Health. 2005 Mar;3(1):27/30.
Home water treatment by direct filtration with natural coagulant.
Babu R, Chaudhuri M.
Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208 016,
India.
Seeds of the plant species Strychnos potatorum and Moringa oleifera contain
natural polyelectrolytes which can be used as coagulants to clarify turbid
waters. In laboratory tests, direct filtration of a turbid surface water
(turbidity 15/25 NTU, heterotrophic bacteria 280/500 cfu ml(/1), and fecal
coliforms 280/500 MPN 100 ml(/1)), with seeds of S. potatorum or M. oleifera as
coagulant, produced a substantial improvement in its aesthetic and
microbiological quality (turbidity 0.3/1.5 NTU, heterotrophic bacteria 5/20 cfu
ml(/1) and fecal coliforms 5/10 MPN 100 ml(/1)). The method appears suitable for
home water treatment in rural areas of developing countries. These natural
coagulants produce a 'low risk' water; however, additional disinfection or
boiling should be practised during localised outbreaks/epidemics of enteric
infections.
PMID: 15952450 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
23: Bioresour Technol. 2006 Jan;97(2):299/305.
Removal of cadmium from aqueous system by shelled Moringa oleifera Lam. seed
powder.
Sharma P, Kumari P, Srivastava MM, Srivastava S.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Dayalbagh Educational Institute,
Dayalbagh, Agra 282 005, India.
The present study explores the unexploited sorption properties of the plant
Moringa oleifera Lam. for decontamination of Cd at laboratory scale. Sorption
studies using standard practices were carried out in batch experiments as
functions of biomass dosage, contact time, metal concentrations, particle size
and pH. Percentage sorption in each case was computed on the basis of Cd
estimation using a planar NaI (TI) detector coupled to a 4K MCA (Canberra
Accuspec Card with PC/AT 386). The adsorption data accurately in a Freundlich
isotherm. Sorption studies resulted in the standardization of optimum conditions
for removal of Cd (85.10%) as follows: biomass dosage (4.0 g), metal
concentration (25 microg/ml), contact time (40 min) and volume of the test
solution (200 ml) at pH 6.5. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry
highlighted amino acid/Cd interactions responsible for sorption phenomenon. The
findings open up new avenues in the removal of toxic metals by shelled Moringa
oleifera seeds (SMOS) from water bodies as low cost, domestic and
environmentally friendly safe technology.
PMID: 15949938 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
24: Water Res. 2005 Jun;39(11):2338/44.
A simple purification and activity assay of the coagulant protein from Moringa
oleifera seed.
Ghebremichael KA, Gunaratna KR, Henriksson H, Brumer H, Dalhammar G.
Department of Land and Water Resources Engineering, Brinellvagen 32, Royal
Institute of Technology (KTH), 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
Use of extracts from Moringa oleifera (MO) is of great interest for low/cost
water treatment. This paper discusses water and salt extraction of a coagulant
protein from the seed, purification using ion exchange, its chemical
characteristics, coagulation and antimicrobial properties. The coagulant from
both extracts is a cationic protein with pI greater than 9.6 and molecular mass
less than 6.5 kDa. Mass spectrometric analysis of the purified water extract
indicated that it contained at least four homologous proteins, based on MS/MS
peptide sequence data. The protein is thermoresistant and remained active after
5h heat treatment at 95 degrees C. The coagulant protein showed both
flocculating and antibacterial effects of 1.1//4 log reduction. With samples of
high turbidity, the MO extract showed similar coagulation activity as alum.
Cecropin A and MO extract were found to have similar flocculation effects for
clay and microorganisms. Simple methods for both the purification and assay of
MO coagulating proteins are presented, which are necessary for large/scale water
treatment applications.
PMID: 15921719 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
25: J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 May 13;99(1):21/30.
Studies of the anticancer potential of plants used in Bangladeshi folk medicine.
Costa/Lotufo LV, Khan MT, Ather A, Wilke DV, Jimenez PC, Pessoa C, de Moraes ME,
de Moraes MO.
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Federal
University of Ceara, Fortaleza Rua Cel Nunes de Melo 1127, Caixa Postal/3157,
60430/270 Fortaleza Ce, Brazil. lvcosta@secrel.com.br
The present study evaluated the anticancer potential of 11 plants used in
Bangladeshi folk medicine. The extracts were tested for cytotoxicity using the
brine shrimp lethality assay, sea urchin eggs assay, hemolysis assay and MTT
assay using tumor cell lines. The extract of Oroxylum indicum showed the highest
toxicity on all tumor cell lines tested, with an IC(50) of 19.6 microg/ml for
CEM, 14.2 microg/ml for HL/60, 17.2 microg/ml for B/16 and 32.5 microg/ml for
HCT/8. On the sea urchin eggs, it inhibited the progression of cell cycle since
the frist cleavage (IC(50)=13.5 microg/ml). The extract of Aegle marmelos
exhibited toxicity on all used assays, but in a lower potency than Oroxylum
indicum. In conclusion, among all tested extracts, only the extracts of Oroxylum
indicum, Moringa oleifera and Aegles marmelos could be considered as potential
sources of anticancer compounds. Further studies are necessary for chemical
characterization of the active principles and more extensive biological
evaluations.
Publication Types:
In Vitro
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 15848015 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
26: J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Apr 20;53(8):2838/42.
Determination of major carotenoids in a few Indian leafy vegetables by
high/performance liquid chromatography.
Lakshminarayana R, Raju M, Krishnakantha TP, Baskaran V.
Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Central Food Technological Research
Institute, Mysore 570 020, India.
Leafy vegetables [Basella rubra L., Peucedanum sowa Roxb., Moringa oleifera
Lam., Trigonella foenum/graecum L., Spinacia oleracea L., Sesbania grandiflora
(L.) Poir., and Raphanus sativus L.] that are commonly used by the rural
population in India were evaluated in terms of their main carotenoid pattern.
The extracted carotenoids were purified by open column chromatography (OCC) on a
neutral alumina column to verify their identity by their characteristic
UV/visible absorption spectra. Reverse/phase high/performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC) on a C18 column with UV/visible photodiode array detection
under isocratic conditions was used for quantification of isolated carotenoids.
Acetonitrile/methanol/dichloromethane (60:20:20 v/v/v) containing 0.1% ammonium
acetate was used as a mobile phase. The major carotenoids identified by both
methods were lutein, beta/carotene, violaxanthin, neoxanthin, and zeaxanthin.
Among the carotenoids identified, lutein and beta/carotene levels were found to
be higher in these leafy vegetables. Results show that P. sowa and S. oleracea
are rich sources of lutein (77/92 mg/100 g of dry wt) and beta/carotene (36/44
mg/100 g of dry wt) compared with other leafy vegetables. The purity of
carotenoids eluted by OCC was clarified by HPLC, and they were found to be 92%
+// 3% for neoxanthin, 94% +// 2% for violaxanthin, 97% +//2% for lutein and
zeaxanthin, and 90% +// 3% for beta/carotene. It could be recommended to use P.
sowa and S. oleracea as rich sources of lutein and beta/carotene for health
benefits. The OCC method proposed is relatively simple and provides purified
carotenoids for feeding trials.
Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 15826027 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
27: Dakar Med. 2002;47(2):210/2.
[Contribution to the study of the anti/inflammatory activity of Moringa oleifera
(moringaceae)]
[Article in French]
Ndiaye M, Dieye AM, Mariko F, Tall A, Sall Diallo A, Faye B.
Laboratoire de Pharmacologie et de Physiologie, UCAD, BP 5005, Dakar, Seregal.
Moringa oleifera is a bush of African savannah, used in folk Medicine for the
treatment of rheumatic and articulary pain. We have tested the anti/inflammatory
action of an aqueous extract of root in rats with weight between 120 and 160 g.
We administered per os either distilled water (control group), the aqueous root
extract (750 mg/kg or 1000 mg/kg) or indomethacin (10 mg/kg) 30 min before an
oedema was induced in the rat/paw by subcutaneous injection of carrageenin. The
rat/paw volume was measured 1, 3 and 5 hours after injection of carrageenin. At
a dose of 750 mg/kg the Moringa oleifera treatment significantly inhibited the
development of oedema at 1, 3 and 5 hours (reduction by 53.5, 44.6 and 51.1%
respectively). Increasing the dose of Moringa oleifera to 1000 mg/kg did not
increase the inhibitory effect on oedema development at 1 and 3 hours, whereas
this dose potentiated the oedema at 5 hours. Treatment with indomethacin
significantly inhibited the development of oedema 1, 3 and 5 hours (49.1, 82.1
and 46.9% respectively). These findings indicate that an aqueous root extract of
Moringa oleifera at 750 mg/kg reduces the carrageenin induced oedema to similar
extent as the potent anti/inflammatory drug indomethacin. Moreover, these
results provide further evidence that the roots of Moringa oleifera contain
anti/inflammatory principle that may be useful in the treatment of the acute
inflammatory conditions.
Publication Types:
English Abstract
PMID: 15776678 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
28: Water Res. 2005 Mar;39(6):975/80.
Detection of water soluble lectin and antioxidant component from Moringa
oleifera seeds.
Santos AF, Argolo AC, Coelho LC, Paiva PM.
Departamento de Bioquimica, CBB/UFPE, Av. Moraes Rego, S/N, Cidade
Universitaria, Recife/PE, 50670/420, Brazil.
Seed flour from Moringa oleifera is widely used as a natural coagulant for water
treatment in developing countries. Extracts obtained by water soaking of M.
oleifera intact seeds were investigated for the presence of lectin, trypsin
inhibitor, tannin as well as antioxidant activity. A water soluble M. oleifera
lectin (WSMoL) detected was mainly active with rabbit cells at pH 4.5; heat
treatment, pH 7.0, fructose and porcine thyroglobulin abolished HA of WSMoL.
Trypsin inhibitor or tannins were not detected; the antioxidant component
(WSMoAC) reduced 1,1/diphenyl/2/picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) was slower than
catechin and was thermostable. The extracts showed a primary glycopolypeptide
band of Mw 20,000; the main native acidic protein showed hemagglutinating
activity. WSMoL may be involved in seed coagulant properties.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 15766952 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
29: Indian J Exp Biol. 2003 Nov;41(11):1279/84.
Central inhibitory effect of Moringa oleifera root extract: possible role of
neurotransmitters.
Ray K, Hazrai R, Guha D.
Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta,
92, A. P. C. Road, Kolkata 700 009, India.
Effect of chronic treatment of standardized aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera
(MO) root (100, 200, 300, 350, 400, 450 mg/kg; po) on penicillin (PCN) induced
convulsion, locomotor behaviour, brain serotonin (5/HTT), dopamine (DA) and
norepinephrine (NE) level was studied in Holtzman strain adult albino rats. The
result revealed that pretreatment with MO inhibited PCN/induced seizure and
markedly reduced locomotor activity. Chronic treatment with MO significantly
increased the 5/HT and decreased the DA level in cerebral cortex (CC), midbrain
(MB), caudate nucleus (CN) and cerebellum (CB). NE level was significantly
decreased in CC but no appreciable change was observed in MB, CB and CN. Thus
the central inhibitory effect of MO is discussed in the light of the disturbed
balance between 5/HT, DA and NE.
Publication Types:
Comparative Study
PMID: 15332497 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
30: Indian J Exp Biol. 2004 Jun;42(6):632/5.
Role of 5/hydroxytryptamine in Moringa oleifera induced potentiation of
pentobarbitone hypnosis in albino rats.
Ray K, Hazra R, Debnath PK, Guha D.
Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta,
92, A.P.C. Road, Kolkata 700 009, India.
The role of 5/hydroxytryptamine (5/HT) in pentobarbitone (PB) sleeping time,
gross behaviour, electrical activity of the brain and serum 5/HT level was
studied in Holtzman strain adult albino rats following treatment with M.
oleifera (MO). MO (350mg/kg) caused inhibition of awareness, touch response,
motor activity, righting reflex, and grip strength. It significantly increased
the PB sleeping time, serum 5/HT level (P<0.001) and alpha/wave activity. These
observations indicate that the aqueous extract of MO potentiated PB induced
sleeping time and increased the alpha/wave activity through 5/HT.
PMID: 15260119 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
31: Environ Technol. 2004 Apr;25(4):481/9.
Evaluation of natural coagulants for direct filtration.
Mandloi M, Chaudhari S, Folkard GK.
M. P. Public Health Engineering Dept., Indore, India.
In the present study surjana (Moringa oleifera) seed, maize (Zea mays) and
chitosan were used in direct filtration of Bilaoli lake water and evaluated for
their efficiency in removing turbidity and microorganisms from water. The
experiments with these natural coagulants gave filtered water turbidity less
than or almost equal to 1NTU and thereby met the turbidity criteria for drinking
water as per WHO guidelines. Bilaoli lake water had low ionic strength and low
turbidity which represents one of the most difficult raw waters to treat, but
natural coagulants in direct filtration achieved good filtrate quality. The head
loss development across the filter bed with chitosan was more than that of alum,
while with maize it was comparable to that of alum. With M. oleifera seeds the
head loss was much less in comparison to alum. The average most probable number
(MPN) reductions obtained with M. oleifera seeds, maize and chitosan were
97.35%, 95.4% and 87.1% respectively, whereas, with alum it was only 7.7%.
Publication Types:
Evaluation Studies
PMID: 15214453 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
32: Antiviral Res. 2003 Nov;60(3):175/80.
Efficacy of Thai medicinal plant extracts against herpes simplex virus type 1
infection in vitro and in vivo.
Lipipun V, Kurokawa M, Suttisri R, Taweechotipatr P, Pramyothin P, Hattori M,
Shiraki K.
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn
University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. lvimolma@chula.ac.th
Twenty Thai medicinal plant extracts were evaluated for anti/herpes simplex
virus type 1 (HSV/1) activity. Eleven of them inhibited plaque formation of
HSV/1 more than 50% at 100microg/ml in a plaque reduction assay. Aglaia odorata,
Moringa oleifera, and Ventilago denticulata among the 11 were also effective
against thymidine kinase/deficient HSV/1 and phosphonoacetate/resistant HSV/1
strains. These therapeutic efficacies were characterized using a cutaneous HSV/1
infection in mice. The extract of M. oleifera at a dose of 750mg/kg per day
significantly delayed the development of skin lesions, prolonged the mean
survival times and reduced the mortality of HSV/1 infected mice as compared with
2% DMSO in distilled water (P<0.05). The extracts of A. odorata and V.
denticulata were also significantly effective in limiting the development of
skin lesions (P<0.05). There were no significant difference between acyclovir
and these three plant extracts in the delay of the development of skin lesions
and no significant difference between acyclovir and M. oleifera in mean survival
times. Toxicity of these plant extracts were not observed in treated mice. Thus,
these three plant extracts may be possible candidates of anti/HSV/1 agents.
Publication Types:
Evaluation Studies
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 14638393 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
33: J Med Food. 2003 Fall;6(3):255/9.
Antioxidant action of Moringa oleifera Lam. (drumstick) against antitubercular
drugs induced lipid peroxidation in rats.
Ashok Kumar N, Pari L.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalai
Nagar/608 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
The protective effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) on hepatic marker
enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidants was investigated during
antitubercular drug (isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide)/induced toxicity
in rats. Enhanced hepatic marker enzymes and lipid peroxidation of
antitubercular drug treatment was accompanied by a significant decrease in the
levels of vitamin C, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase,
glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S/transferase. Administration of Moringa
oleifera extract and silymarin significantly decreased hepatic marker enzymes
and lipid peroxidation with a simultaneous increase in the level of
antioxidants. We speculate that Moringa oleifera extract exerts its protective
effects by decreasing liver lipid peroxides and enhancing antioxidants.
PMID: 14585192 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
34: J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Oct 22;51(22):6558/63.
Analytical characterization of Moringa oleifera seed oil grown in temperate
regions of Pakistan.
Anwar F, Bhanger MI.
Applied Chemistry Research Center, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Karachi 75280,
Pakistan. fanwarpk@yahoo.com
The hexane/extracted oil content of Moringa oleifera seeds ranged from 38.00 to
42.00%. Protein, fiber, and ash contents were found to be 26.50/32.00,
5.80/9.29, and, 5.60/7.50%, respectively. Results of physical and chemical
parameters of the extracted oil were as follows: iodine value, 68.00/71.80;
refractive index (40 degrees C), 1.4590/1.4625; density (24 degrees C),
0.9036/0.9080 mg/mL; saponification value, 180.60/190.50; unsaponifiable matter,
0.70/1.10%; and color (1 in. cell), 0.95/1.10 R + 20.00/35.30 Y. Tocopherols
(alpha, gamma, and delta) in the oil were up to 123.50/161.30, 84.07/104.00, and
41.00/56.00 mg/kg, respectively. The oil was found to contain high levels of
oleic acid (up to 78.59%) followed by palmitic, stearic, behenic, and arachidic
acid up to levels of 7.00, 7.50, 5.99, and 4.21%, respectively. The induction
period (Rancimat, 20 L/h, 120 degrees C) of the crude oil was 9.99 h and reduced
to 8.63 h after degumming. Specific extinctions at 232 and 270 nm were 1.70 and
0.31, respectively. Many parameters of M. oleifera oil indigenous to Pakistan
were comparable to those of typical Moringa seed oils reported in the
literature. The results of the present analytical study were also compared with
those of different vegetable oils.
PMID: 14558778 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
35: Pest Manag Sci. 2003 Sep;59(9):1060/2.
Evaluation of aqueous Moringa seed extract as a seed treatment biofungicide for
groundnuts.
Donli PO, Dauda H.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maiduguri, PMB 1069, Maiduguri,
Nigeria.
In a search for alternatives to currently used fungicides, the potential of
aqueous Moringa seed extract (AMSE) as a seed treatment was evaluated. Seeds of
groundnut, Arachis hypogea L cv Dakar, were soaked in AMSE at concentrations of
1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 g litre(/1) for 24 h. Comparison was made with Apron Plus
(metalaxyl+carboxin+furathiocarb), until recently a recommended seed/treatment
chemical, and distilled water, which was the medium for extraction of Moringa
seeds. The results showed that AMSE has potential for use as a biofungicide on
groundnut seeds, since all the concentrations used except 1 g litre(/1) brought
about significant reduction in the incidence of fungi on the seeds, such
reduction increasing as the dosage of AMSE increased. There were no significant
differences in control between the highest concentration of AMSE (20 g
litre(/1)) and Apron Plus at the manufacturer's recommended level. Water also
produced slight reductions in the incidence of fungi, although this was not
significant at P = 0.05. The sensitivity to AMSE of the fungi tested varied,
Mucor sp being the most sensitive and Aspergillus niger the least, with Rhizopus
stolonifer and Aspergillus flavus intermediate.
PMID: 12974360 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
36: Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2003 Apr/Jun;4(2):131/9.
Chemomodulatory effect of Moringa oleifera, Lam, on hepatic carcinogen
metabolising enzymes, antioxidant parameters and skin papillomagenesis in mice.
Bharali R, Tabassum J, Azad MR.
Department of Biotechnology, Gauhati University, Guwahati 781014, Assam, India.
rbharali@rediffmail.com
The modulatory effects of a hydro/alcoholic extract of drumsticks of Moringa
oliefera Lam at doses of 125 mg/kg bodyweight and 250 mg/ kg body weight for 7
and 14 days, respectively, were investigated with reference to drug metabolising
Phase I (Cytochrome b(5) and Cytochrome p(450) ) and Phase II (Glutathione/S/
transferase) enzymes, anti/oxidant enzymes, glutathione content and lipid
peroxidation in the liver of 6/8 week old female Swiss albino mice. Further, the
chemopreventive efficacy of the extract was evaluated in a two stage model of
7,12 / dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induced skin papillomagenesis. Significant
increase (p<0.05 to p<0.01) in the activities of hepatic cytochrome b(5),
cytochrome p(450), catalase, glutathione peroxidase ( GPx ), glutathione
reductase (GR), acid soluble sulfhydryl content (/SH ) and a significant
decrease ( p<0.01 ) in the hepatic MDA level were observed at both dose levels
of treatment when compared with the control values. Glutathione/S/ transferase (
GST )activity was found to be significantly increased (p<0.01 ) only at the
higher dose level. Butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA ) fed at a dose of 0.75% in the
diet for 7 and 14 days (positive control ) caused a significant increase (p<0.05
to p<0.01) in the levels of hepatic phase I and phase II enzymes, anti/ oxidant
enzymes, glutathione content and a decrease in lipid peroxidation. The skin
papillomagenesis studies demonstrated a significant decrease (p<0.05 ) in the
percentage of mice with papillomas, average number of papillomas per mouse and
papillomas per papilloma bearing mouse when the animals received a topical
application of the extract at a dose of 5mg/ kg body weight in the
peri/initiation phase 7 days before and 7 days after DMBA application, Group II
), promotional phase (from the day of croton oil application and continued till
the end of the experiment, Group III ) and both peri and post initiation stages
(from 7 days prior to DMBA application and continued till the end of the
experiment, Group IV) compared to the control group (Group I ). The percentage
inhibition of tumor multiplicity has been recorded to be 27, 72, and 81 in
Groups II, III, and IV, respectively. These findings are suggestive of a
possible chemopreventive potential of Moringa oliefera drumstick extract against
chemical carcinogenesis.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 12875626 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
37: Indian J Pediatr. 2003 May;70(5):383/7.
Drumstick leaves as source of vitamin A in ICDS/SFP.
Nambiar VS, Bhadalkar K, Daxini M.
Department of Foods and Nutrition, Faculty of Home Science, M.S. University of
Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India. vanisha_nam@yahoo.com
OBJECTIVE: This pilot study is about to assess the feasibility and acceptability
of introducing dehydrated drumstick leaves, (DDL) (Moringa oleifera), as a
source of vitamin A, into the salty recipes provided by the supplementary food
(SF) component of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) along with
nutrition communication (NC). METHODS: An integrated approach was adapted in
this study which included comprehensive training sessions for the staff of the
ICDS and Non/government organization (NGO) involved in the SF preparations.
Prior to the acceptability trials, data were elicited on the socio/economic
profile and knowledge about vitamin A, from 60 children of 1/5 year of age
attending two anganwadi centres of the ICDS. RESULT: From these, 40 children
attending one anganwadi were supplemented with pre/tested DDL incorporated
recipes (5/7 g DDI/100 g product) along with NC for one month. Spot observations
and organoleptic evaluation results indicated high compliance of the DDL/recipes
by the children. The results also indicated that the recipes were highly
acceptable to the ICDS authorities as well as the NGO staff. CONCLUSION: The
pilot study indicated that integration of NC along with the introduction of
unconventional DDL, into the ICDS/SF, was feasible and can be endeavoured for a
longer duration in the existing national programmes.
PMID: 12841398 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
38: J Chromatogr A. 2003 May 9;996(1/2):85/93.
Separation and purification of glucosinolates from crude plant homogenates by
high/speed counter/current chromatography.
Fahey JW, Wade KL, Stephenson KK, Chou FE.
Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Cancer Chemoprotection Center, Department of
Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins
University, 406 WBSB, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205/2185, USA.
jfahey@jhmi.edu
Glucosinolates are anionic, hydrophilic plant secondary metabolites which are of
particular interest due to their role in the prevention of cancer and other
chronic and degenerative diseases. The separation and purification of
glucosinolates from a variety of plant sources (e.g. seeds of broccoli, arugula
and the horseradish tree), was achieved using high/speed counter/current
chromatography (HSCCC). A high/salt, highly polar system containing
1/propanol/acetonitrile/saturated aqueous ammonium sulfate/water (1:0.5:1.2:1),
was run on a semi/preparative scale and then transferred directly to preparative
scale. Up to 7 g of a concentrated methanolic syrup containing about 10%
glucosinolates was loaded on an 850/ml HSCCC column, and good separation and
recovery were demonstrated for 4/methylsulfinylbutyl, 3/methylsulfinylpropyl,
4/methylthiobutyl, 2/propenyl and 4/(rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl glucosinolates.
Multiple injections (5 to 6 times) were performed with well/preserved liquid
stationary phase under centrifugal force. Pooled sequential runs with broccoli
seed extract yielded about 20 g of its predominant glucosinolate, glucoraphanin,
which was produced at > 95% purity and reduced to powdered form.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
PMID: 12830910 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
39: Arch Tierernahr. 2003 Feb;57(1):65/81.
Effects of Moringa oleifera seed extract on rumen fermentation in vitro.
Hoffmann EM, Muetzel S, Becker K.
Department of Aquaculture Systems and Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal
Production in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart,
Germany.
Moringa oleifera is a pantropical tree of the family Moringaceae. A previously
undescribed property of an aqueous extract from the seeds of this plant is the
modulation of ruminal fermentation patterns, especially protein degradation, as
demonstrated in a short/term batch incubation system. Gas, short chain fatty
acids (SCFA) and cellulolytic enzyme activities were determined as general
fermentation parameters. A dot blot assay able to directly detect true protein
in rumen fluid samples was used to quantify protein degradation. For complex
substrates the interpretation of protein degradation profiles was amended by
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of the samples. When incubated with
pure carbohydrates at a concentration of 1 mg ml(/1), the extract reduced
microbial degradation of the model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), such
that its concentration was at least 40% above the control after 12 h of
incubation. Total protein degradation was thus delayed by approximately 9 h.
When fermented along with wheat straw, leaf protein (Rubisco) was almost
entirely protected during 12 h of fermentation. The degradation of soy proteins
was retarded by at least 4/6 h, depending on the protein band. There were strong
side effects on the fermentation of pure cellulose (SCFA yield/60% after 12 h),
whereas cellobiose and starch fermentation were less affected (/18 and /8%,
respectively). When the complex substrates were fermented, SCFA yield was
reduced by approximately 30% after 12 h. In our work we clearly demonstrate the
efficacy of the new substance, which is neither a tannin nor a saponin, in an in
vitro system, using pure as well as complex substrates. The properties shown in
vitro for the crude extract suggest that it could have a positive effect on the
protein metabolism of ruminants under intensive management and that negative
side effects can be overcome by an optimized dosage. If the chemical nature of
the active substance and its mechanism of action can be clarified, it may
provide an alternative to replace critical synthetic feed additives (such as
antibiotics) for high yielding dairy cows.
Publication Types:
In Vitro
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 12801080 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
40: J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Jun 4;51(12):3546/53.
Profiling glucosinolates and phenolics in vegetative and reproductive tissues of
the multi/purpose trees Moringa oleifera L. (horseradish tree) and Moringa
stenopetala L.
Bennett RN, Mellon FA, Foidl N, Pratt JH, Dupont MS, Perkins L, Kroon PA.
Phytochemicals, Nutrition Division, Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research
Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, Malawi. richard.bennett@bbsrc.ac.uk
Moringa species are important multi/purpose tropical crops, as human foods and
for medicine and oil production. There has been no previous comprehensive
analysis of the secondary metabolites in Moringa species. Tissues of M. oleifera
from a wide variety of sources and M. stenopetala from a single source were
analyzed for glucosinolates and phenolics (flavonoids, anthocyanins,
proanthocyanidins, and cinnamates). M. oleifera and M. stenopetala seeds only
contained 4/(alpha/l/rhamnopyranosyloxy)/benzylglucosinolate at high
concentrations. Roots of M. oleifera and M. stenopetala had high concentrations
of both 4/(alpha/l/rhamnopyranosyloxy)/benzylglucosinolate and benzyl
glucosinolate. Leaves from both species contained
4/(alpha/l/rhamnopyranosyloxy)/benzylglucosinolate and three monoacetyl isomers
of this glucosinolate. Only 4/(alpha/l/rhamnopyranosyloxy)/benzylglucosinolate
was detected in M. oleifera bark tissue. M. oleifera leaves contained
quercetin/3/O/glucoside and quercetin/3/O/(6' '/malonyl/glucoside), and lower
amounts of kaempferol/3/O/glucoside and kaempferol/3/O/(6' '/malonyl/glucoside).
M. oleifera leaves also contained 3/caffeoylquinic acid and 5/caffeoylquinic
acid. Leaves of M. stenopetala contained quercetin 3/O/rhamnoglucoside (rutin)
and 5/caffeoylquinic acid. Neither proanthocyanidins nor anthocyanins were
detected in any of the tissues of either species.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 12769522 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
41: World Rev Nutr Diet. 2003;91:41/59.
Kanjero (Digera arvensis) and drumstick leaves (Moringa oleifera): nutrient
profile and potential for human consumption.
Seshadri S, Nambiar VS.
Department of Foods and Nutrition (A WHO Collaborating Centre for Nutrition
Research), Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India.
Publication Types:
Review
PMID: 12747087 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
42: J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Jun;86(2/3):191/5.
Effect of fruits of Moringa oleifera on the lipid profile of normal and
hypercholesterolaemic rabbits.
Mehta K, Balaraman R, Amin AH, Bafna PA, Gulati OD.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Technology and Engineering, The M.S.
University of Baroda, Kalabhavan, Gujarat, India.
Rabbits were fed Moringa oleifera (200mg/kg/day, p.o.) or lovastatin
(6mg/kg/day, p.o.) in banana pulp along with standard laboratory diet and
hypercholesterolaemic diet for 120 days. Moringa oleifera and lovastatin were
found to lower the serum cholesterol, phospholipid, triglyceride, VLDL, LDL,
cholesterol to phospholipid ratio and atherogenic index, but were found to
increase the HDL ratio (HDL/HDL/total cholesterol) as compared to the
corresponding control groups. Treatment with M. oleifera or lovastatin in normal
rabbits decreased the HDL levels. However, HDL levels were significantly
increased or decreased in M. oleifera/ or lovastatin/treated
hypercholesterolaemic rabbits, respectively. Lovastatin/ or M. oleifera/treated
hypercholesterolaemic rabbits showed decrease in lipid profile of liver, heart
and aorta while similar treatment of normal animals did not produce significant
reduction in heart. Moringa oleifera was found to increase the excretion of
faecal cholesterol. Thus, the study demonstrates that M. oleifera possesses a
hypolipidaemic effect.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 12738086 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
43: Trop Anim Health Prod. 2003 Apr;35(2):155/67.
An in vitro evaluation of some unconventional ruminant feeds in terms of the
organic matter digestibility, energy and microbial biomass.
Al/Masri MR.
Division of Animal Production, Department of Agriculture, Atomic Energy
Commission, PO Box 6091, Damascus, Syria.
In vitro organic matter apparent digestibility (IVOMAD), true digestibility
(IVOMTD), metabolizable energy (ME), net energy lactation (NEL), microbial
nitrogen (MN) and synthesis of microbial biomass (MBM) were estimated to predict
the nutritive values of some agricultural by/products, drought/tolerant range
plants and browses. The relationships between in vitro gas production (GP), and
true or apparent digestibility. MN and MBM were studied utilizing an in vitro
incubation technique. The values of IVOMAD, IVOMTD, ME, NEL, GP, MBM and MN
varied with the studied experimental materials. The true fermentation of the
outside part of Atriplex leucoclada produced a higher volume of gas than the
middle or the inside parts, and this was associated with an increase in the
values of IVOMAD, IVOMTD, ME and NEL. However, screening off the wood from olive
cake to obtain olive cake pulp increased the IVOMAD, IVOMTD, ME, NEL and the
volume of gas production from the true fermented material. One ml of gas was
generated from the true degradation of 5 mg of wheat straw, Moringa oleifera,
Alhagi camelorum, Eucaliptus camaldulensis and A. leucoclada, from 11 mg of
Prosopsis stephaniana and olive cake pulp, and from 20 mg of olive cake or olive
cake wood. The amount of MN or MBM produced from 100 mg of truly fermented
organic matter depended on the kind of the fermented material and amounted to
0.7/2.9 mg or 8/34 mg, respectively. Crude fibre was negatively correlated to
IVOMAD, IVOMTD, ME and NEL. Gas production was positively correlated to IVOMAD
and IVOMTD but negatively correlated to MBM and MN.
Publication Types:
In Vitro
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 12735706 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
44: J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Apr 9;51(8):2144/55.
Antioxidant properties of various solvent extracts of total phenolic
constituents from three different agroclimatic origins of drumstick tree
(Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves.
Siddhuraju P, Becker K.
Department of Aquaculture Systems and Animal Nutrition, Institute for Animal
Production in the Tropics and Subtropics, Universitat Hohenheim (480b), D/70593
Stuttgart, Germany.
Water, aqueous methanol, and aqueous ethanol extracts of freeze/dried leaves of
Moringa oleifera Lam. from different agroclimatic regions were examined for
radical scavenging capacities and antioxidant activities. All leaf extracts were
capable of scavenging peroxyl and superoxyl radicals. Similar scavenging
activities for different solvent extracts of each collection were found for the
stable 1,1/diphenyl 2/picrylhydrazyl (DPPH(*)) radical. Among the three
different moringa samples, both methanol and ethanol extracts of Indian origins
showed the highest antioxidant activities, 65.1 and 66.8%, respectively, in the
beta/carotene/linoleic acid system. Nonetheless, increasing concentration of all
the extracts had significantly (P < 0.05) increased reducing power, which may in
part be responsible for their antioxidant activity. The major bioactive
compounds of phenolics were found to be flavonoid groups such as quercetin and
kaempferol. On the basis of the results obtained, moringa leaves are found to be
a potential source of natural antioxidants due to their marked antioxidant
activity. This is the first report on the antioxidant properties of the extracts
from freeze/dried moringa leaves. Overall, both methanol (80%) and ethanol (70%)
were found to be the best solvents for the extraction of antioxidant compounds
from moringa leaves.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 12670148 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
45: J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Jan;84(1):105/8.
Comparative evaluation of hypoglycaemic activity of some Indian medicinal plants
in alloxan diabetic rats.
Kar A, Choudhary BK, Bandyopadhyay NG.
Satsang Herbal Research and Analytical Laboratories, PO Satsang/814 116 Deoghar,
India. pratip_neogy@hotmail.com
In our experiments 30 hypoglycaemic medicinal plants (known and less known) have
been selected for thorough studies from indigenous folk medicines, Ayurvedic,
Unani and Siddha systems of medicines. In all the experiments with different
herbal samples (vacuum dried 95% ethanolic extracts), definite blood glucose
lowering effect within 2 weeks have been confirmed in alloxan diabetic albino
rats. Blood glucose values are brought down close to normal fasting level using
herbal samples at a dose of 250 mg/kg once, twice or thrice daily, as needed.
While evaluating comparative hypoglycaemic activity of the experimental herbal
samples, significant blood glucose lowering activities are observed in
decreasing order in the following 24 samples/Coccinia indica, Tragia
involucrata, G. sylvestre, Pterocarpus marsupium, T. foenum/graecum, Moringa
oleifera, Eugenia jambolana, Tinospora cordifolia, Swertia chirayita, Momordica
charantia, Ficus glomerata, Ficus benghalensis, Vinca rosea, Premna
integrifolia, Mucuna prurita, Terminalia bellirica, Sesbenia aegyptiaca,
Azadirachta indica, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Zingiber officinale, Aegle
marmelos, Cinnamomum tamala, Trichosanthes cucumerina and Ocimum sanctum.
Present studies besides confirming hypoglycaemic activities of the experimental
herbal samples, help identify more potent indigenous hypoglycaemic herbs (in
crude ethanolic extract) from the comparative study of the reported experimental
results. Copyright 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
PMID: 12499084 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
46: J Med Food. 2002 Fall;5(3):171/7.
Hepatoprotective activity of Moringa oleifera on antitubercular drug/induced
liver damage in rats.
Pari L, Kumar NA.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalai
Nagar, Tamil Nadu / 608 002, India. paribala@sancharnet.in
Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae), commonly known as "Drumstick," is used in
Indian folk medicine for the treatment of various illness. We have evaluated the
hepatoprotective effect of an ethanolic extract of M. oleifera leaves on liver
damage induced by antitubercular drugs such as isoniazid (INH), rifampicin
(RMP), and pyrazinamide (PZA) in rats. Oral administration of the extract showed
a significant protective action made evident by its effect on the levels of
glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (aspartate aminotransferase), glutamic pyruvic
transaminase (alanine aminotransferase), alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin in
the serum; lipids, and lipid peroxidation levels in liver. This observation was
supplemented by histopathological examination of liver sections. The results of
this study showed that treatment with M. oleifera extracts or silymarin (as a
reference) appears to enhance the recovery from hepatic damage induced by
antitubercular drugs.
PMID: 12495589 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
47: Biotechnol Bioeng. 2003 Jan 5;81(1):13/20.
Expression of a plant/derived peptide harboring water/cleaning and antimicrobial
activities.
Suarez M, Entenza JM, Doerries C, Meyer E, Bourquin L, Sutherland J, Marison I,
Moreillon P, Mermod N.
Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnology, Universite de Lausanne, Centre de
Biotechnologie UNIL/EPFL, Switzerland.
Drinking water is currently a scarce world resource, the preparation of which
requires complex treatments that include clarification of suspended particles
and disinfection. Seed extracts of Moringa oleifera Lam., a tropical tree, have
been proposed as an environment/friendly alternative, due to their traditional
use for the clarification of drinking water. However, the precise nature of the
active components of the extract and whether they may be produced in recombinant
form are unknown. Here we show that recombinant or synthetic forms of a cationic
seed polypeptide mediate efficient sedimentation of suspended mineral particles
and bacteria. Unexpectedly, the polypeptide was also found to possesses a
bactericidal activity capable of disinfecting heavily contaminated water.
Furthermore, the polypeptide has been shown to efficiently kill several
pathogenic bacteria, including antibiotic/resistant isolates of Staphylococcus,
Streptococcus, and Legionella species. Thus, this polypeptide displays the
unprecedented feature of combining water purification and disinfectant
properties. Identification of an active principle derived from the seed extracts
points to a range of potential for drinking water treatment or skin and mucosal
disinfection in clinical settings. Copyright 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 12432576 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
48: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2002 Oct;60(1/2):114/9. Epub 2002 Aug 23.
Flocculent activity of a recombinant protein from Moringa oleifera Lam. seeds.
Broin M, Santaella C, Cuine S, Kokou K, Peltier G, Joet T.
CEA/Cadarache, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Departement d'Ecophysiologie
Vegetale et Microbiologie, Laboratoire d'Ecophysiologie de la Photosynthese, UMR
163 CNRS CEA, Univ/Mediterranee CEA 1000, 13108 Saint/Paul/lez/Durance, France.
Seeds of the tropical tree Moringa oleifera contain small storage proteins able
to flocculate particles in suspension in water. The cDNA encoding one of these
flocculent proteins, MO(2.1), was cloned and the recombinant protein was
expressed in Escherichia coli. The flocculent activity of the purified
recombinant MO(2.1)was assayed on clays and bacteria using light and confocal
microscopy and GFP/overexpressing bacteria. We show that MO(2.1)is able to
aggregate montmorillonite clay particles as well as gram/positive and
gram/negative bacteria. We discuss the use of recombinant proteins to study
flocculating properties and improve water purification processes.
PMID: 12382051 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
49: Z Naturforsch [C]. 2002 Mar/Apr;57(3/4):277/81.
In vitro antiplasmodial investigation of medicinal plants from El Salvador.
Kohler I, Jenett/Siems K, Siems K, Hernandez MA, Ibarra RA, Berendsohn WG,
Bienzle U, Eich E.
Institut fur Pharmazie, Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany.
In vitro antiplasmodial activities of extracts from Albizia saman, Fabaceae,
Calea tenuifolia (C. zacatechichi), Asteraceae, Hymenaea courbaril, Fabaceae,
Jatropha curcas, Euphorbiaceae, Momordica charantia, Cucurbitaceae, and Moringa
oleifera, Moringaceae were evaluated. From the lipophilic extract of C
tenuifolia five active flavones were obtained. 4',5/Dihydroxy/7/methoxyflavone
[genkwanin] and 5/hydroxy/4',7/dimethoxyflavone [apigenin 4',7/dimethylether]
exhibited the strongest antiplasmodial activity against a chloroquine/sensitive
strain (poW) and a chloroquine/resistant strain (Dd2) of Plasmodium falciparum
[IC50 values: 17.1/28.5 microM). Furthermore octadeca/9,12/dienoic acid
[linoleic acid] [IC50] values of 21.8 microM (poW) and 31.1 microM (Dd2)] and
octadeca/9,12,15/trienoic acid (alpha/linolenic acid) were isolated.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 12064726 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
50: J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Feb 27;50(5):970/5.
(13)C NMR characterization of triacylglycerols of Moringa oleifera seed oil: an
"oleic/vaccenic acid" oil.
Vlahov G, Chepkwony PK, Ndalut PK.
Istituto Sperimentale per la Elaiotecnica, Contrada Fonte Umano, 65013 Citta S.
Angelo (Pescara), Italy. vlahov@unich.it
The composition of acyl chains and their positions in the triacylglycerols of
the oil extracted from seeds of Moringa oleifera were studied by (13)C NMR
spectroscopy. The unsaturated chains of M. oleifera seed oil were found to
comprise only mono/unsaturated fatty acids and, in particular, two omega/9
mono/unsaturated acids, (cis/9/octadecenoic (oleic acid) and cis/11/eicosenoic
acids) and one omega/7 mono/unsaturated acid (cis/11/octadecenoic acid (vaccenic
acid)). The mono/unsaturated fatty acids were detected as separated resonances
in the spectral regions where the carbonyl and olefinic carbons resonate
according to the 1,3/ and 2/positions on the glycerol backbone. The unambiguous
detection of vaccenic acid was also achieved through the resonance of the
omega/3 carbon. The (13)C NMR methodology enabled the simultaneous detection of
oleate, vaccenate, and eicosenoate chains according to their positions on the
glycerol backbone (1,3/ and 2/positions) through the carboxyl, olefinic, and
methylene envelope carbons of the triacylglycerol acyl chains.
PMID: 11853466 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
51: Indian J Exp Biol. 2001 Sep;39(9):858/63.
In vivo radioprotective effect of Moringa oleifera leaves.
Rao AV, Devi PU, Kamath R.
Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India.
Radioprotective property of Moringa oleifera leaves was investigated in healthy
adult Swiss albino mice. Animals were injected (ip) with 150 mg/kg body weight
of 50% methanolic extract (ME) of M. oleifera leaves, as a single dose, or in 5
daily fractions of 30 mg/kg each, and exposed to whole body gamma irradiation
(RT, 4 Gy) 1 hr later. Five animals from each group were sacrificed at 1, 2 and
7 days after treatment. Bone marrow protection was studied by scoring
aberrations in metaphase chromosomes and micronucleus induction in polychromatic
erythrocytes and normochromatic erythrocytes. Pretreatment with a single dose of
150 mg/kg ME significantly reduced the percent aberrant cells to 2/3rd that of
RT alone group on day 1 and brought the values to normal range by day 7
post/irradiation. A similar effect was also seen for the micronucleated cells.
Fractionated administration of ME (30 mg/kg x 5) gave a higher protection than
that given by the same dose administered as a single treatment. ME also
inhibited the Fenton reaction/generated free radical activity in vitro in a
concentration dependent manner. These results demonstrate that pretreatment with
the methanolic leaf extract of M. oleifera confers significant radiation
protection to the bone marrow chromosomes in mice and this may lead to the
higher 30 day survival after lethal whole body irradiation.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 11831365 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
52: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2001 May;55(5):644/51.
Enhancing the start/up of a UASB reactor treating domestic wastewater by adding
a water extract of Moringa oleifera seeds.
Kalogo Y, M'Bassiguie Seka A, Verstraete W.
Centre for Environmental Sanitation, Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and
Technology, Ghent University, Belgium.
Water extract of Moringa oleifera seeds (WEMOS) was used to enhance the start/up
of a self/inoculated upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating raw
domestic wastewater. Two reactors labelled control (RC) and WEMOS addition (RM)
were started without special inoculum. Both reactors were fed continuously for
22 weeks with domestic wastewater containing an average total chemical oxygen
demand (COD) of 320 mg O2/l and suspended solid (SS) of 165 mg/l. The reactors
operated during the entire experimental period at 29 degrees C and at a
hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 4 h. The RM reactor received 2 ml WEMOS per
litre of influent. WEMOS solution was prepared on the basis of 2.5% (w/v) ground
M. oleifera seeds in water. The results of 22 weeks' operation showed an
improvement in the performance of the RM compared to that of the RC. The dosage
of WEMOS in the feed (1) shortened the biological start/up period by 20%, (2)
increased acidogenic and methanogenic activity by a factor of 2.4 and 2.2
respectively, (3) increased the specific biogas production by a factor of 1.6,
(4) favoured fast growth of the sludge bed, and (5) allowed the aggregation of
coccoid bacteria and growth of microbial nuclei, which are precursors of
anaerobic granulation.
Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 11414335 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
53: J Agric Food Chem. 2001 Jun;49(6):3101/5.
Alpha/tocopherol content in 62 edible tropical plants.
Ching LS, Mohamed S.
Faculty of Food Science and Biotechnology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400
Serdang Selangor, Malaysia.
Vitamin E was determined by the high/performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
method. All the plants tested showed differences in their alpha/tocopherol
content and the differences were significant (p < 0.05). The highest
alpha/tocopherol content was in Sauropus androgynus leaves (426.8 mg/kg edible
portion), followed by Citrus hystrix leaves (398.3 mg/kg), Calamus scipronum
(193.8 mg/kg), starfruit leaves Averrhoa belimbi (168.3 mg/kg), red pepper
Capsicum annum (155.4 mg/kg), local celery Apium graveolens (136.4 mg/kg), sweet
potato shoots Ipomoea batatas (130.1 mg/kg), Pandanus odorus (131.5 mg/kg),
Oenanthe javanica (146.8 mg/kg), black tea Camelia chinensis (183.3
mg/kg),papaya Carica papaya shoots (111.3 mg/kg), wolfberry leaves Lycium
chinense (94.4 mg/kg), bird chili Capsicum frutescens leaves (95.4 mg/kg),
drumstick Moringa oleifera leaves (90.0 mg/kg), green chili Capsicum annum (87
mg/kg), Allium fistulosum leaves (74.6 mg/kg), and bell pepper Capsicum annum
(71.0 mg/kg). alpha/Tocopherol was not detected in Brassica oleracea, Phaeomeria
speciosa, Pachyrrhizus speciosa, Pleurotus sajor/caju, and Solanum melongena.
PMID: 11410015 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
54: Water Res. 2001 Feb;35(2):405/10.
Isolation and characterization of coagulant extracted from Moringa oleifera seed
by salt solution.
Okuda T, Baes AU, Nishijima W, Okada M.
Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Engineering, Hiroshima
University 1/4/1 Kagamiyama, Higashi/Hiroshima, Hiroshima, 739/8527 Japan.
tetsuji@environ.hiroshima/u.ac.jp
It is known that M. oleifera contains a natural coagulant in the seeds. In our
previous research, the method using salt water to extract the active coagulation
component from M. oleifera seeds was developed and compared with the
conventional method using water. In this research, the active coagulation
component was purified from a NaCl solution crude extract of Moringa oleifera
seeds. The active component was isolated and purified from the crude extract
through a sequence of steps that included salting/out by dialysis, removal of
lipids and carbohydrates by homogenization with acetone, and anion exchange.
Specific coagulation activity of the active material increased up to 34 times
more than the crude extract after the ion exchange. The active component was not
the same as that of water extract. The molecular weight was about 3000 Da. The
Lowry method and the phenol/sulfuric acid method indicated that the active
component was neither protein nor polysaccharide. The optimum pH of the purified
active component for coagulation of turbidity was pH 8 and above. Different from
the conventional water extracts, the active component can be used for waters
with low turbidity without increase in the dissolved organic carbon
concentration.
PMID: 11228992 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
55: Water Res. 2001 Mar;35(3):830/4.
Coagulation mechanism of salt solution/extracted active component in Moringa
oleifera seeds.
Okuda T, Baes AU, Nishijima W, Okada M.
Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Engineering, Hiroshima
University, 1/4/1 Kagamiyama, Higashi/Hiroshima, Hiroshima, 739/8527, Japan.
tetsuji@environ.hiroshima/u.ac.jp
This study focuses on the coagulation mechanism by the purified coagulant
solution (MOC/SC/PC) with the coagulation active component extracted from M.
oleifera seeds using salt solution. The addition of MOC/SC/PC tap water formed
insoluble matters. This formation was responsible for kaolin coagulation. On the
other hand, insoluble matters were not formed when the MOC/SC/PC was added into
distilled water. The formation was affected by Ca2+ or other bivalent cations
which may connect each molecule of the active coagulation component in MOC/SC/PC
and form a net/like structure. The coagulation mechanism of MOC/SC/PC seemed to
be an enmeshment of Kaolin by the insoluble matters with the net/like structure.
In case of Ca2+ ion (bivalent cations), at least 0.2 mM was necessary for
coagulation at 0.3 mgC l/1 dose of MOC/SC/PC. Other coagulation mechanisms like
compression of double layer, interparticle bridging or charge neutralization
were not responsible for the coagulation by MOC/SC/PC.
PMID: 11228982 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
56: Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2001;56(1):83/95.
Bioavailability trials of beta/carotene from fresh and dehydrated drumstick
leaves (Moringa oleifera) in a rat model.
Nambiar VS, Seshadri S.
Department of Foods and Nutrition, Faculty of Home Science, MS University of
Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
Male albino rats (Charles Foster, n = 40) were fed a synthetic diet deficient in
vitamin A for 4 weeks. Six rats died during the depletion period. Of the 34
surviving, 5 rats were continued on the vitamin A deficient diet for 4 more
weeks and 24 were repleted with vitamin A (4000 IU/kg diet) in the form of
vitamin A acetate (group A, n = 8), fresh drumstick leaves (group B, n = 8) or
dehydrated drumstick leaves (group C, n = 8) for 4 weeks. The remaining 10 rats
were continued on the vitamin A adequate diet for 4 (n = 5) and 8 weeks,
respectively (n = 5). A marked reduction in food intake, body weight,
accompanied by clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency and a decline in serum
vitamin A (29.2 to 19.1 microg/dL) and liver vitamin A (3.7 to 2.0 microg/dL)
were seen at the end of 4 weeks of feeding a vitamin A deficient diet. On
repletion significant improvements in clinical signs, food intake and body
weights were noted in the three groups compared to the baseline (n = 5) and at
the end of 4 weeks of depletion. The gain in body weight was highest for the
group repleted with dehydrated drumstick leaves. Among the repleted groups, the
serum vitamin A was highest for group A (34.7 microg/dL) given synthetic vitamin
A, compared to group B (25.8 microg/dL) and group C (28.2 microg/dL) given
drumstick leaves. All these were significantly higher than the serum vitamin A
values seen at the end of 4 weeks of depletion (19.1 microg/dL). A significant
improvement was also observed in the liver retinol levels on repletion for 4
weeks in the three groups, compared to the vitamin A depleted rats. These
results imply that beta/carotene from drumstick leaves was effective in
overcoming vitamin A deficiency although serum vitamin A levels remained
somewhat lower compared to the group repleted with vitamin A acetate. In terms
of growth parameters, the fresh and dehydrated drumstick leaves were better than
the synthetic vitamin A. It is therefore concluded that in the developing
countries like India, sources of vitamin A such as drumstick leaves are valuable
in overcoming the problem of vitamin A deficiency.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 11213172 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
57: Lett Appl Microbiol. 2000 Sep;31(3):259/64.
Effect of a water extract of Moringa oleifera seeds on the hydrolytic microbial
species diversity of a UASB reactor treating domestic wastewater.
Kalogo Y, Rosillon F, Hammes F, Verstraete W.
Centre for Environmental Sanitation, Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and
Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Ghent and Fondation Universitaire
Luxembourgeoise, Belgium.
The effect of a continuous supply of a water extract of Moringa oleifera seeds
(WEMOS) on the hydrolytic microbial population of biomass grown in mesophilic
upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors treating domestic wastewater was
investigated. The WEMOS/treated sludge had seemingly a wider diversity, with
enterobacter and klebsiella as dominant hydrolytic bacteria, compared with the
control sludge. Additional tests indicated that various hydrolytic bacteria
could degrade WEMOS. It appeared that a continuous supply of WEMOS to an
anaerobic digester, treating domestic wastewater, increased the diversity of
hydrolytic bacteria and therefore enhanced the biological start/up of the
reactor.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 10972741 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
58: Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2000 May;51(3):195/208.
Energy and micronutrient composition of dietary and medicinal wild plants
consumed during drought. Study of rural Fulani, northeastern Nigeria.
Lockett CT, Calvert CC, Grivetti LE.
Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
Two rural settled Fulani villages, northeastern Nigeria, were surveyed for
dietary practices and use of edible wild plants (n = 100 households). Commonly
consumed species of edible wild barks, fruits, leaves, nuts, seeds, and tubers
were analyzed for protein, fat, and carbohydrate and for minerals. Kuka bark
(Adansonia digitata) given to infants to increase weight gain was high in fat,
calcium, copper, iron, and zinc. Cediya (Ficus thonningii), dorowa (Parkia
biglobosa) and zogale (Moringa oleifera) were good sources of protein and fat
and excellent sources of calcium and iron or copper and zinc. Fruits, leaves,
and nuts of aduwa (Balanites aegyptiaca) were widely used during the dry season
and during drought. Edible wild species available during the wet season
generally were inferior in energy and micronutrient mineral content compared to
dry season plants. Fruits commonly eaten by children were poor sources of
protein and minerals but rich in carbohydrate and fiber. Tsamiya seeds
(Tamarindus indica) were good sources of zinc and used to make dawwa (porridge)
commonly consumed during pregnancy. Kirya seeds (Prosopos africana) contained
the highest zinc concentrations. Shiwaka leaves (Veronia colorate) consumed by
pregnant women to increase breastmilk production and to expel intestinal worms,
were high in fiber, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and were adequate sources
of calcium.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 10945116 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
59: Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 1998;53(1):57/69.
Nutrient content of the edible leaves of seven wild plants from Niger.
Freiberger CE, Vanderjagt DJ, Pastuszyn A, Glew RS, Mounkaila G, Millson M, Glew
RH.
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico
School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131, USA.
Wild plants play an important role in the diet of the inhabitants of Niger.
These plants tend to be drought/resistant and are gathered both in times of
plenty as well as times of need. Used in everyday cooking, famine foods may be
an important source of nutrients. The goal of this study was to investigate the
nutritional role of wild plants in the nigerien diet. To this end, leaves of
seven plants species were analyzed for their mineral, amino acid and fatty acid
contents: Ximenia americana, Amaranthus viridus, Corchorus tridens, Hibiscus
sabdarifa, Maerua crassifolia, Moringa oleifera, and Leptadenia hastata. Ximenia
americana contained large amounts of calcium. Large quantities of iron were
present in Amaranthus viridus. All seven plants contained significant amounts of
selenium and phosphorus. Corchorus tridens contained the most protein (19/25%
dry weight), and its composition compared favorably to the World Health
Organization's standard for essential amino acids. Moringa oleifera contained
17% protein and compared favorably with the WHO standard. Corchorus tridens
contained the largest amounts of the two essential fatty acids linoleic and
alpha/linolenic acids. These results reinforce the growing awareness that wild
edible plants of the Western Sahel can contribute useful amounts of essential
nutrients, including amino acids, fatty acids and trace minerals, to human
diets.
Publication Types:
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
PMID: 10890758 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
60: Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 1998;53(1):29/36.
Mineral composition of non/conventional leafy vegetables.
Barminas JT, Charles M, Emmanuel D.
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology PMB, Yola, Nigeria.
Six non/conventional leafy vegetables consumed largely by the rural populace of
Nigeria were analyzed for mineral composition. Mineral contents appeared to be
dependent on the type of vegetables. Amaranthus spinosus and Adansonia digitata
leaves contained the highest level of iron (38.4 mg/100 g and 30.6 mg/100 g dw,
respectively). These values are low compared to those for common Nigerian
vegetables but higher than those for other food sources. All the vegetables
contained high levels of calcium compared to common vegetables, thus they could
be a rich source of this mineral. Microelement content of the leaves varied
appreciably. Zinc content was highest in Moringa oleifera, Adansonia digitata
and Cassia tora leaves (25.5 mg/100 g, 22.4 mg/100 g and 20.9 mg/100 g dw,
respectively) while the manganese content was comparatively higher in Colocasia
esculenta. The concentrations of the mineral elements in the vegetables per
serving portion are presented and these values indicate that the local
vegetables could be valuable and important contributors in the diets of the
rural and urban people of Nigeria. The mean daily intake of P, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu
and Zn were lower than their recommended dietary allowances (RDAs). However, the
manganese daily intake was found not to differ significantly (p = 0.05) from the
RDA value.
PMID: 10890755 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
61: Pharmacol Res. 2000 Mar;41(3):319/23.
Role of Moringa oleifera leaf extract in the regulation of thyroid hormone
status in adult male and female rats.
Tahiliani P, Kar A.
Thyroid Research Unit, School of Life Sciences, Vigyan Bhawan, Devi Ahilya
University, Khandwa road Campus, Indore, 452 017, India.
The role of Moringa oleifera aqueous leaf extract in the regulation of thyroid
hormone status, was studied in adult Swiss rats. Other than the thyroid hormone
concentrations, hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the activities of
antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were
evaluated. In the first experiment, effects of the leaf extract (175 mg
kg(/1)body wt. day(/1)for 10 days) were studied both in male and female animals.
Following the administration of the extract, serum triiodothyronine (T(3))
concentration and hepatic LPO decreased with a concomitant increase in the serum
thyroxine (T(4)) concentration, in female rats, while in males no significant
changes were observed, suggesting that Moringa oleifera leaf extract is more
effective in females than in the males. To evaluate the impact of a higher dose,
in the second experiment, the study was repeated in female rats, with 350 mg
kg(/1)body wt. day(/1)for the same duration. Almost similar reduction in the
serum T(3)concentration (approx. 30%) and an increase in the T(4)concentration
were observed suggesting the inhibiting nature of Moringa oleifera leaf extract
in the peripheral conversion of T(4)to T(3), the principal source of the
generation of latter hormone. As the antiperoxidative effects were exhibited
only by the lower dose and percent decrease in T(3)concentration was nearly the
same by both the doses, it is suggested that the lower concentration of this
plant extract may be used for the regulation of hyperthyriodism. 2000 Academic
Press@p$hr Copyright 2000 Academic Press.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 10675284 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
62: J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Jan;69(1):21/5.
Hypocholesterolemic effects of crude extract of leaf of Moringa oleifera Lam in
high/fat diet fed wistar rats.
Ghasi S, Nwobodo E, Ofili JO.
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of
Nigeria, Enugu.
The leaves of Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae) are used by the Indians in
their herbal medicine as a hypocholesterolemic agent in obese patients. The
scientific basis for their use in hypercholesterolemia was therefore examined.
It was found that administration of the crude leaf extract of Moringa oleifera
along with high/fat diet decreased the high/fat diet/induced increases in serum,
liver, and kidney cholesterol levels by 14.35% (115/103.2 mg/100 ml of serum),
6.40% (9.4/8.8 mg/g wet weight) and 11.09% (1.09/0.97 mg/g wet weight)
respectively. The effect on the serum cholesterol was statistically significant.
No significant effect on serum total protein was observed. However, the crude
extract increased serum albumin by 15.22% (46/53 g/l). This value was also found
to be statistically significant. It was concluded that the leaves of Moringa
oleifera have definite hypocholesterolemic activity and that there is valid
pharmacological basis for employing them for this purpose in India.
PMID: 10661880 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
63: Indian J Exp Biol. 1999 Jun;37(6):612/4.
Evaluation of hematological and hepatorenal functions of methanolic extract of
Moringa oleifera Lam. root treated mice.
Mazumder UK, Gupta M, Chakrabarti S, Pal D.
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Calcutta, India.
Methanolic extract of M. oleifera root was found to contain some alkaloids
(total alkaloid 0.2%). Effects of multiple weekly (35, 46, 70 mg/kg) and daily
therapeutic (3.5, 4.6, 7.0 mg/kg) i.p. doses of the crude extract (CE) on liver
and kidney functions and hematological parameters in mice were studied. No
alteration in hematological and biochemical parameters at low and moderate dose
level of daily and low dose level of weekly treatment of the extract was
observed. However, the extract at moderate dose level in weekly treatment
changed serum aminotransferase and plasma cholesterol levels significantly. High
dose in addition to the above parameters changed total bilirubin, non protein
nitrogen, blood urea and plasma protein. High dose of daily treatment and
moderate and high dose of weekly treatment of CE increased WBC count and
decreased clotting time significantly. The results indicate that the weekly
moderate and high dose (> 46 mg/kg body wt.) and daily/therapeutic high dose (7
mg/kg) of CE affects liver and kidney functions and hematological parameters
whereas the weekly dose (3.5 mg/kg) and low and moderate daily/therapeutic dose
(3.5 and 4.6 mg/kg) did not produce adverse effects on liver and kidney
functions.
PMID: 10641193 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
64: J Agric Food Chem. 1999 Nov;47(11):4495/9.
Characterization of Moringa oleifera variety Mbololo seed oil of Kenya.
Tsaknis J, Lalas S, Gergis V, Dourtoglou V, Spiliotis V.
Department of Food Technology, Technological Educational Institute (TEI), Ag.
Spyridonos Str., Egaleo 12210, Athens, Greece. jtsaknis@teiath.gr
The oil from Moringa oleifera variety Mbololo seeds from Kenya was extracted
using three different procedures including cold press (CP), extraction with
n/hexane (H), and extraction with a mixture of chloroform/methanol (50:50) (CM).
The oil concentration ranged from 25.8% (CP) to 31.2% (CM). The density,
refractive index, color, smoke point, viscosity, acidity, saponification value,
iodine value, fatty acid methyl esters, sterols, tocopherols (by HPLC), peroxide
value, and at 232 and 270 nm and the susceptibility to oxidation measured with
the Rancimat method were determined. The oil was found to contain high levels of
unsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic (up to 75.39%). The dominant saturated
acids were behenic (up to 6. 73%) and palmitic (up to 6.04%). The oil was also
found to contain high levels of beta/sitosterol (up to 50.07%), stigmasterol (up
to 17.27%), and campesterol (up to 15.13%). alpha/, gamma/, and
delta/tocopherols were detected up to levels of 105.0, 39.54, and 77. 60 mg/kg
of oil, respectively. The induction period (at 120 degrees C) of M. oleifera
seed oil was reduced from 44.6 to 64.3% after degumming. The M. oleifera seed
oil showed high stability to oxidative rancidity. The results of all the above
determinations were compared with those of a commercial virgin olive oil.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 10552840 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
65: Mutat Res. 1999 Apr 6;440(2):181/8.
An antitumor promoter from Moringa oleifera Lam.
Guevara AP, Vargas C, Sakurai H, Fujiwara Y, Hashimoto K, Maoka T, Kozuka M, Ito
Y, Tokuda H, Nishino H.
Institute of Chemistry, College of Science, University of the Philippines,
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.
In the course of studies on the isolation of bioactive compounds from Philippine
plants, the seeds of Moringa oleifera Lam. were examined and from the ethanol
extract were isolated the new O/ethyl/4/(alpha/L/rhamnosyloxy)benzyl carbamate
(1) together with seven known compounds, 4(alpha/L/rhamnosyloxy)/benzyl
isothiocyanate (2), niazimicin (3), niazirin (4), beta/sitosterol (5),
glycerol/1/(9/octadecanoate) (6),
3/O/(6'/O/oleoyl/beta/D/glucopyranosyl)/beta/sitosterol (7), and
beta/sitosterol/3/O/beta/D/glucopyranoside (8). Four of the isolates (2, 3, 7,
and 8), which were obtained in relatively good yields, were tested for their
potential antitumor promoting activity using an in vitro assay which tested
their inhibitory effects on Epstein/Barr virus/early antigen (EBV/EA) activation
in Raji cells induced by the tumor promoter,
12/O/tetradecanoyl/phorbol/13/acetate (TPA). All the tested compounds showed
inhibitory activity against EBV/EA activation, with compounds 2, 3 and 8 having
shown very significant activities. Based on the in vitro results, niazimicin (3)
was further subjected to in vivo test and found to have potent antitumor
promoting activity in the two/stage carcinogenesis in mouse skin using
7,12/dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) as initiator and TPA as tumor promoter.
From these results, niazimicin (3) is proposed to be a potent chemo/preventive
agent in chemical carcinogenesis. Copyright 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 10209341 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
66: Mol Ecol. 1999 Mar;8(3):463/70.
Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis of genetic variation in
Moringa oleifera Lam
Muluvi GM, Sprent JI, Soranzo N, Provan J, Odee D, Folkard G, McNicol JW, Powell
W.
Biotechnology Division, Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Moringa oleifera is an important multipurpose tree introduced to Africa from
India at the turn of this century. Despite limited knowledge of the levels of
genetic diversity and relatedness of introduced populations, their utilization
as a source of seed for planting is widespread. In order to facilitate reasoned
scientific decisions on its management and conservation and prepare for a
selective breeding programme, genetic analysis of seven populations was
performed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. The four
pairs of AFLP primers (PstI/MseI) generated a total of 236 amplification
products of which 157 (66.5%) were polymorphic between or within populations.
Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed significant differences between
regions and populations, even though outcrossing perennial plants are expected
to maintain most variation within populations. A phenetic tree illustrating
relationships between populations suggested at least two sources of germplasm
introductions of Kenya. The high levels of population differentiation detected
suggest that provenance source is an important factor in the conservation and
exploitation of M. oleifera genetic resources.
PMID: 10199008 [PubMed / as supplied by publisher]
67: Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 1998;52(1):17/30.
Analysis of nutritional components of eight famine foods of the Republic of
Niger.
Sena LP, Vanderjagt DJ, Rivera C, Tsin AT, Muhamadu I, Mahamadou O, Millson M,
Pastuszyn A, Glew RH.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico
School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131/5221, USA.
In the western Sahel, indigenous plants become important staples when cereal
harvests are inadequate to support populations inhabiting that region of Africa.
The purpose of this study was to assess the nutrient content of several of these
edible wild plants. The leaves of the following seven plant foods were analyzed:
Ziziphus mauritiana, Cerathotheca sesamoides, Moringa oleifera, Leptadenia
hastata, Hibiscus sabdarifa, Amaranthus viridis, and Adansonia digitata. The
fatty acid, vitamin E, carotenoid, selected mineral and amino acid contents of
these plant foods were determined. These same analyses were performed on the
fruit of the Adanisonia digitata. In quantitative and qualitative terms,
Amaranthus viridis was found to be an excellent source of protein. Its amino
acid composition compared favorably to that of a World Health Organization (WHO)
protein standard. It also contained considerable amounts of the two fatty acids
that are essential in humans (linoleic and alpha/linolenic) and a number of
minerals including iron, magnesium. calcium and zinc. The leaves of Hibiscus
sabdarifa contained an appreciable quantity of protein the composition of which
was comparable to the WHO standard. The mineral content of the leaves of this
plant was also exceptionally high; noteworthy was its high zinc content. H.
sabdarifa also contained significant quantities of the two essential fatty
acids. Ziziphus mauritiana was an excellent source of the essential fatty acid
linoleic acid and several of the metals including iron, calcium, magnesium and
zinc. Its content of other essential nutrients, however, was rather low. In
general, Adansonia digitata leaves were nutritionally superior to the fruit of
the tree; however, the fruit did contain useful quantities of potassium,
phosphorus, zinc and alpha/linolenic acid. The Leptadenia hastata leaves were an
especially good source of lutein and beta/carotene. These data should be useful
to the people who inhabit the western Sahel in helping them devise healthy diets
during times when cereal staples are in short supply.
Publication Types:
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
PMID: 9839831 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
68: Planta Med. 1998 May;64(4):319/23.
Niaziminin, a thiocarbamate from the leaves of Moringa oleifera, holds a strict
structural requirement for inhibition of tumor/promoter/induced Epstein/Barr
virus activation.
Murakami A, Kitazono Y, Jiwajinda S, Koshimizu K, Ohigashi H.
Department of Biotechnological Science, Faculty of Biology/Oriented Science and
Technology, Japan.
Three known thiocarbamate (TC)/ and isothiocyanate (ITC)/related compounds have
been isolated from the leaves of Moringa oleifera, a traditional herb in
southeast Asia, as inhibitors of tumor promoter teleocidin B/4/induced
Epstein/Barr virus (EBV) activation in Raji cells. Interestingly, only
niaziminin among 10 TCs including 8 synthetic ones showed considerable
inhibition against EBV activation. The structure/activity relationships
indicated that the presence of an acetoxy group at the 4'/position of niaziminin
is important and indispensable for inhibition. On the other hand, among the
ITC/related compounds, naturally occurring
4/[(4'/O/acetyl/alpha/L/rhamnosyloxy)benzyl]ITC and commercially available
allyl/ and benzyl/ITC significantly inhibited activation, suggesting that the
isothiocyano group is a critical structural factor for activity.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 9619112 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
69: Planta Med. 1998 Apr;64(3):225/8.
Hypotensive constituents from the pods of Moringa oleifera.
Faizi S, Siddiqui BS, Saleem R, Aftab K, Shaheen F, Gilani AH.
H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Pakistan.
Hypotensive activity of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Moringa oleifera
whole pods and their parts, namely, coat, pulp, and seed was investigated. The
activity of the ethanolic extract of both the pods and the seeds was equivalent
at the dose of 30 mg/kg. The ethyl acetate phase of the ethanolic extract of
pods was found to be the most potent fraction at the same dose. Its
bioassay/directed fractionation led to the isolation of thiocarbamate and
isothiocyanate glycosides which were also the hypotensive principles of the pods
as observed in case of Moringa leaves. Two new compounds,
O/[2'/hydroxy/3'/(2"/heptenyloxy)]/propyl undecanoate (1) and
O/ethyl/4/[(alpha/L/rhamnosyloxy)/benzyl] carbamate (2) along with the known
substances methyl p/hydroxybenzoate (3) and beta/sitosterol have also been
isolated in the present studies. The latter two compounds and
p/hydroxybenzaldehyde showed promising hypotensive activity. Structures of all
these compounds have been deduced by spectroscopy and chemical reactions.
PMID: 9581519 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
70: Sci Total Environ. 1997 Nov 27;207(2/3):207/11.
Adsorption of the cyanobacterial hepatotoxin microcystin/LR by a low/cost
activated carbon from the seed husks of the pan/tropical tree, Moringa oleifera.
Warhurst AM, Raggett SL, McConnachie GL, Pollard SJ, Chipofya V, Codd GA.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Edinburgh, UK.
A low/cost activated carbon from the pan/tropical multipurpose tree Moringa
oleifera removes the cyanobacterial hepatotoxin microcystin/LR in quantitative
amounts from water in batch adsorption trials. The potential of M. oleifera seed
husk carbon for cyanobacterial toxin removal in drinking water treatment in
tropical countries is discussed.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 9447749 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
71: Mycoses. 1995 May/Jun;38(5/6):191/5.
Preliminary studies of the antifungal activities of some medicinal plants
against Basidiobolus and some other pathogenic fungi.
Nwosu MO, Okafor JI.
Department of Botany, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
The antifungal activities of extracts of 10 medicinal plants collected from
south/eastern parts of Nigeria were tested against seven pathogenic fungi using
the broth dilution and agar plate methods. All the extracts at 1:10 dilution
inhibited the growth of Basidiobolus haptosporus and B. ranarum but did not
inhibit that of Aspergillus fumigatus, Geotrichum candidum and Candida albicans.
While extracts from Piper guineense, Ocimum gratissimum, Moringa oleifera and
Erythrophleum suaveolens inhibited the growth of Trichophyton rubrum and T.
mentagrophytes, those from Fatropha curcas, Mitracarpus villosus, Azadirachta
indica and Gongronema latifolium failed to do so at 1:10 dilution. Extract from
Piper sp. was also able to inhibit the growth of B. haptosporus at a
concentration as low as 1:80 dilution followed by those of Ocimum and Rauvolfia
spp. at 1:40 dilution. These results indicate possible use of certain plant
extracts in the treatment of subcutaneous phycomycosis in humans and animals.
Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 8531930 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
72: Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995 Apr 13;1243(3):477/81.
Isolation and characterization of a flocculating protein from Moringa oleifera
Lam.
Gassenschmidt U, Jany KD, Tauscher B, Niebergall H.
Bundesforschungsanstalt fur Ernahrung, Karlsruhe Germany.
A flocculating protein from the seeds of Moringa oleifera Lam. was isolated by
extraction with phosphate buffer followed by cation exchange chromatography. The
molecular mass of the protein determined by SDS/PAGE was about 6.5 kDa, the
isoelectric point was above pH 10. Amino acid analysis and sequencing showed
high contents of glutamine, arginine and proline, and a total of 60 residues.
The amino terminus is blocked by pyroglutamate. The flocculant capacity,
determined in glass powder suspension, is comparable to that of a cationic
polymer on polyacrylamide basis. Flocculation activity may be explained by the
patch charge mechanism due to low molecular weight and high charge density.
PMID: 7727523 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
73: Phytochemistry. 1995 Mar;38(4):957/63.
Fully acetylated carbamate and hypotensive thiocarbamate glycosides from Moringa
oleifera.
Faizi S, Siddiqui BS, Saleem R, Siddiqui S, Aftab K, Gilani AH.
H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Pakistan.
Six new and three synthetically known glycosides have been isolated from the
leaves of Moringa oleifera, employing a bioassay/directed isolation method on
the ethanolic extract. Most of these compounds, bearing thiocarbamate, carbamate
or nitrile groups, are fully acetylated glycosides, which are very rare in
nature. Elucidation of the structures was made using chemical and spectroscopic
methods, including 2D NMR techniques. Thiocarbamates showed hypotensive
activity.
PMID: 7766390 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
74: J Nat Prod. 1994 Sep;57(9):1256/61.
Isolation and structure elucidation of new nitrile and mustard oil glycosides
from Moringa oleifera and their effect on blood pressure.
Faizi S, Siddiqui BS, Saleem R, Siddiqui S, Aftab K, Gilani AH.
H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Pakistan.
Bioassay/guided analysis of an EtOH extract of Moringa oleifera leaves showing
hypotensive activity led to the isolation of two nitrile glycosides, niazirin
[1] and niazirinin [2], and three mustard oil glycosides,
4/[(4'/O/acetyl/alpha/L/rhamnosyloxy)benzyl]isothiocyanate [4], niaziminin A,
and niaziminin B. Glycoside 2 is a new compound. Niaziminins A and B have
previously been obtained from the left extract as a mixture, while compound 4 is
new from this source. Structural determination was accomplished by means of
spectroscopic methods including appropriate 2D nmr experiments and chemical
reactions. This is the first report of the isolation of nitriles, an
isothiocyanate, and thiocarbamates from the same plant species. Isothiocyanate 4
and the thiocarbamate glycosides niaziminin A and B showed hypotensive activity
while nitrile glycosides 1 and 2 were found to be inactive in this regard.
PMID: 7798960 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
75: Nahrung. 1994;38(2):199/203.
Availability of calcium from kilkeerai (Amaranthus tricolor) and drumstick
(Moringa oleifera) greens in weanling rats.
Pankaja N, Prakash J.
Department of Studies in Home Science, University of Mysore, India.
The present study was undertaken to determine the extent of calcium absorption
in weanling rats from two types of greens rich in oxalates. The edible portions
of greens namely kilkeerai (Amaranthus tricolor) and drumstick (Moringa
oleifera) were analysed for moisture, calcium and total and soluble oxalates.
Three groups of 6 male weanling albino rats were fed ad libitum on milk diet and
two experimental diets containing greens. Urine and faecal samples were
collected for a period of 7 days after 5 days of acclimatization period and were
analysed for calcium. From the values obtained percent absorption and retention
of calcium were calculated. Results revealed that calcium absorption and
retention from milk diet (92 and 78%, respectively) were significantly higher
than greens. Average calcium absorption and retention from greens diet were 75.5
and 60%, respectively. Presence of oxalates inhibited intestinal absorption of
calcium.
PMID: 8196748 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
76: J Ethnopharmacol. 1992 Jun;36(3):233/7.
Pharmacologic properties of Moringa oleifera. 2: Screening for antispasmodic,
antiinflammatory and diuretic activity.
Caceres A, Saravia A, Rizzo S, Zabala L, De Leon E, Nave F.
Center for Mesoamerican Studies on Appropriate Technology (CEMAT), Guatemala
City, Guatemala.
Hot water infusions of flowers, leaves, roots, seeds and stalks or bark of
Moringa oleifera were screened to detect three pharmacologic activities in
experimental models in rats. The antispasmodic activity was demonstrated using
isolated duodenum, oral anti/inflammatory activity by carrageenan/induced
hindpaw edema and oral diuretic activity by urine output in metabolic cages. The
seed infusion showed a significant inhibition of acetylcholine/induced
contraction with an ED50 of 65.6 mg/ml bath concentration, inhibition of
carrageenan/induced edema at 1000 mg/kg and diuretic activity at 1000 mg/kg.
Some activity was also demonstrated in the roots. All doses expressed here are
as equivalents of dried starting plant material.
Publication Types:
Comparative Study
In Vitro
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 1434682 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
77: J Ethnopharmacol. 1992 Apr;36(2):147/54.
Commonly used Indian abortifacient plants with special reference to their
teratologic effects in rats.
Nath D, Sethi N, Singh RK, Jain AK.
Division of Toxicology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
A survey programme was organised in Lucknow and Farrukhabad, two towns of Uttar
Pradesh, from March 1987 to July 1987. During the survey, the common folk
medicine plants used by women were recorded and Ayurvedic and Unani drug
encyclopedias were consulted for the antireproductive potential of these plants.
Aqueous or 90% ethanol extracts of the plants of interest were studied in rats
orally dosed for 10 days after insemination with special reference to effects on
foetal development. Leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera and Adhatoda vasica were
100% abortive at doses equivalent to 175 mg/kg of starting dry material. Only
the flowers of Acacia arabica and Hibiscus rosa/sinensis appeared to lack
teratologic potential at the doses tested.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 1608272 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
78: J Ethnopharmacol. 1991 Jul;33(3):213/6.
Pharmacological properties of Moringa oleifera. 1: Preliminary screening for
antimicrobial activity.
Caceres A, Cabrera O, Morales O, Mollinedo P, Mendia P.
Center for Mesoamerican Studies on Appropriate Technology (CEMAT), Guatemala
City, Guatemala.
The antimicrobial activities of Moringa oleifera leaves, roots, bark and seeds
were investigated in vitro against bacteria, yeast, dermatophytes and helminths
pathogenic to man. By a disk/diffusion method, it was demonstrated that the
fresh leaf juice and aqueous extracts from the seeds inhibit the growth of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and that extraction
temperatures above 56 degrees C inhibited this activity. No activity was
demonstrated against four other pathogenic Gram/positive and Gram/negative
bacteria and Candida albicans. By a dilution method, no activity was
demonstrated against six pathogenic dermatophytes. A method was standardized for
studying the effect of aqueous extracts on Ascaris lumbricoides eggs, but no
activity was exhibited by any part of the tree in contrast to Chenopodium
ambrosioides leaf extracts.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 1921416 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
79: Mutat Res. 1989 Oct;224(2):209/12.
Mutagens from roasted seeds of Moringa oleifera.
Villasenor IM, Lim/Sylianco CY, Dayrit F.
Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.
A number of biosynthetically and chemically related compounds were isolated from
the roasted seeds of Moringa oleifera. The micronucleus test, an in vivo method,
using albino mice as the test system, was used for monitoring the mutagenicity
of the isolated compounds. Structure/activity correlation studies showed that
4(alpha/L/rhamnosyloxy)phenylacetonitrile, 4/hydroxyphenylacetontrile, and
4/hydroxyphenyl/acetamide exhibited mutagenic activity.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 2797036 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
80: Carcinogenesis. 1989 Jun;10(6):1085/7.
Structure of a mutagen from roasted seeds of Moringa oleifera.
Villasenor IM, Finch P, Lim/Sylianco CY, Dayrit F.
Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philipines, Diliman, Quezon City.
A mutagenic compound was isolated from roasted seeds of Moringa oleifera Lam.
Its structure has been elucidated by spectral analysis as
4(alpha/L/rhamnosyloxy)phenylacetonitrile. The results of the Micronucleus Test,
an in vivo method, showed that the number of micronucleated polychromatic
erythrocytes (PCE)/1000 PCE for this compound is higher than that of the solvent
control, dimethylsulfoxide, and approximates that of the positive control,
tetracycline. This indicates that 4(alpha/L/rhamnosyloxy)phenylacetonitrile is a
genotoxic compound.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 2720902 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
81: J Ethnopharmacol. 1989 May;25(3):249/61.
Histoarchitecture of the genital tract of ovariectomized rats treated with an
aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera roots.
Shukla S, Mathur R, Prakash AO.
Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji
University, Gwalior, India.
The effect of an aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera roots was studied
histologically on the genital tract of ovariectomized rats in the presence and
absence of estradiol dipropionate and progesterone. Administration of the
extract itself stimulated the uterine histoarchitecture as revealed by increases
in the height of luminal epithelium, well developed glands, loose stroma and
rich vascularity. The cervix showed metaplastic changes in the epithelium with
marked keratinization. In the vagina, cornification was very prominent, rugae
increased and stroma was loose. Conjoint administration of the extract with
estradiol showed a synergistic action, and an inhibition was observed when
administered conjointly with progesterone.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 2747260 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
82: Acta Eur Fertil. 1988 Jul/Aug;19(4):225/32.
Biochemical and physiological alterations in female reproductive organs of
cyclic rats treated with aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera Lam.
Shukla S, Mathur R, Prakash AO.
Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji
University, India.
Biochemical and physiological alterations have been observed in the genital
tract of female cyclic rats treated with aqueous extract of M. oleifera Lam. Its
administration caused a significant increase in the glycogen contents, protein
concentration, activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase and the level of total
cholesterol in all the organs at initial days of treatment. However, at longer
days of treatment the values revealed a significant depletion. Initially its
administration stimulated the uterine structures, caused metaplastic changes in
the cervical epithelium and provoked considerable cornification in the vaginal
epithelium. At later durations significant inhibition in the histoarchitecture
was observed. Biochemical observations supplemented with the histological
findings have been correlated with the anti/implantation action of the aqueous
extract in the light of its hormonal properties.
PMID: 3227756 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
83: J Ethnopharmacol. 1988 Jan;22(1):51/62.
Antifertility profile of the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera roots.
Shukla S, Mathur R, Prakash AO.
Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji
University, Gwalior, India.
An aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera roots was investigated for its
estrogenic, anti/estrogenic, progestational and antiprogestational activities.
Oral administration of extract progressively increased the uterine wet weight of
bilaterally ovariectomized rats. This estrogenic activity was supported by
stimulation of uterine histo/architecture. When the extract was given conjointly
with estradiol dipropionate (EDP), there was a successive reduction in the
uterine wet weight when compared to the gain with EDP alone and uterine
histological structures were also inhibited. In the deciduoma test, the highest
dose of 600 mg/kg interfered with the formation of deciduoma in 50% of the rats,
showing some antiprogestational activity. Doses up to 600 mg/kg of the extract
orally failed to induce a decidual response in the traumatized uterus of
ovariectomized rats. The antifertility effect of the extract appears to be due
to multiple attributes.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 3352285 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
84: J Trop Med Hyg. 1987 Jun;90(3):101/9.
Effect of water coagulation by seeds of Moringa oleifera on bacterial
concentrations.
Madsen M, Schlundt J, Omer EF.
The effects of a Sudanese water purification method traditionally used in Sudan
to treat turbid waters were studied with respect to turbidity reduction and
removal of faecal indicator bacteria as well as selected enteric bacterial
pathogens. Water treatment was performed at 30 degrees C with Moringa oleifera
seed material as a coagulant, and the technique employed corresponded closely to
that used to clarify turbid water in Sudanese villages. A turbidity reduction of
80.0/99.5% paralleled by a primary bacterial reduction of 1/4 log units
(90.00/99.99%) was obtained within the first 1 to 2 h of treatment, the bacteria
being concentrated in the coagulated sediment. During the 24 h observation
period a secondary bacterial increase due to regrowth in the supernatant water
was consistently observed for Salmonella typhimurium and Shigella sonnei, in
some cases for Escherichia coli, but not for Vibrio cholerae, Streptococcus
faecalis and Clostridium perfringens. The potential of the method when compared
with some alternative for the improvement of rural drinking water supplies is
discussed.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 3586089 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
85: Acta Eur Fertil. 1987 Mar/Apr;18(2):129/35.
Uterine histoarchitecture during pre and post/implantation periods of rats
treated with aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera Lam.
Prakash AO, Pathak S, Shukla S, Mathur R.
The effect of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. (roots) has been studied
on histoarchitecture of the uterus during pre and post/implantation stages in
rats so as to elucidate its antifertility mode of action. The histoarchitecture
of the uterus of control pregnant rat had revealed a clear/cut close apposition
of the uterine endometrium with reduced lumen and loose stroma. There was a
prominent appearance of deciduoma and the uterine glands were enlarged.
Glandular cells showed hypertrophy and in the endometrium the leucocytic
infiltration was increased. When the aqueous extract of M. oleifera Lam. was
administered, no deciduoma was observed on day 5th of pregnancy and the luminal
epithelium remained unstimulated. The lumen was enlarged and the uterus was
non/oedematous. It has been concluded that the administration of aqueous extract
of M. oleifera Lam. to pregnant rats could not stimulate the uterus which
remained non/receptive throughout the period of treatment, therefore, the
fertilized eggs may not be welcomed by the unprepared uterus.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 3630576 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
86: East Afr Med J. 1984 Sep;61(9):712/6.
Toxicological assessment of seeds from Moringa oleifera and Moringa stenopetala,
two highly efficient primary coagulants for domestic water treatment of tropical
raw waters.
Berger MR, Habs M, Jahn SA, Schmahl D.
PMID: 6535725 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
87: Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1982;52(1):9/13.
Bioavailability of thiamine, riboflavin and niacin from commonly consumed green
leafy vegetables in the rural areas of Andhra Pradesh in India.
Girija V, Sharada D, Pushpamma P.
The physiological availability of thiamine, riboflavin and niacin from three
green leafy vegetables // amaranth (Amaranthes gangeticus), gogu (Hibiscus
cannabinus) and drumstick leaves (Moringa oleifera) was calculated from
individual dose response curves. The bioavailability of thiamine and riboflavin
was higher from drumstick leaves curry, while the availability of niacin was
higher from gogu curry. But the differences in the bioavailability of the
vitamins from the experimental curries was not significant.
PMID: 7085205 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
88: Indian J Med Res. 1981 Oct;74:548/53.
Influence of protein and fat on the utilisation of carotene from drumstick
(Moringa oleifera) leaves.
Geervani P, Devi A.
PMID: 7338379 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
89: Planta Med. 1981 May;42(1):55/61.
The antibiotic principle of seeds of Moringa oleifera and Moringa stenopetala.
Eilert U, Wolters B, Nahrstedt A.
PMID: 7255568 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
