Moringa oleifera and inflammation: a mini-review of its effects and mechanisms

Optimization of Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE) Parameters for Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Moringa oleifera Leaves and Bioactivity Assessment

Moringa oleifera leaves are rich sources of bioactive compounds with potential health benefits, including antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) stands out as a promising technique for effectively extracting valuable compounds from natural sources. In this study, we aimed to optimize PLE parameters, such as temperature, extraction duration, and pressure, to maximize bioactive compound (polyphenols, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid) yield from M. oleifera leaves and evaluate their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. According to the outcomes of this research, the maximum achieved total polyphenol content was 24.10 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of dry weight (dw), and the total flavonoid content was increased up to 19.89 mg rutin equivalents (RtE)/g dw. Moreover, after HPLC-DAD analysis, neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acids, catechin and epicatechin, rutin, and narirutin were identified and quantified. As far as the optimum ascorbic acid content is concerned, it was found to be 4.77 mg/g dw. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by three different methods: ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), the DPPH method, and the anti-hydrogen peroxide activity (AHPA) method, resulting in 124.29 μmol ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/g dw, 131.28 μmol AAE/g dw, and 229.38 μmol AAE/g dw values, respectively. Lastly, the albumin denaturation inhibition was found to be 37.54%. These findings underscore the potential of PLE as an efficient extraction method for preparing extracts from M. oleifera leaves with the maximum content of bioactive compounds.

Assessment of the Anti-inflammatory Activities of the Moringa Leaf Extract in Periodontitis Cases through IL-6 Cytokine Analysis in Wistar (Rattus novergicus)

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes damage to the supporting structures of the teeth, and if left untreated, it can lead to impaired function, appearance, pain, and tooth loss. Periodontitis is caused by bacteria that adhere to and grow on the tooth surface. The “red complex” bacteria consisted of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia. These bacteria will trigger an inflammatory response in the body. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an IL that acts both as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-6 is a stimulator for MMP production. To treat the periodontal disease can be through non-surgical therapy as well as surgical therapy, to maximize therapy, it is accompanied by antimicrobial therapy. However, because of the frequent use of antimicrobials, causing antimicrobial resistance in patients, the use of natural ingredients as additional therapy is very necessary for this study using Moringa leaves as a substitute for antimicrobials. AIM: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Moringa leaf in influencing the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. The first benefit of this research is to provide scientific information in the field of dentistry regarding the effectiveness of Moringa leaves against red-complex bacteria P. gingivalis as a cause of chronic periodontitis through anti-inflammatory cytokine analysis. METHODS: The type of research that will be used is quasi-experimental with a post-test research design with a control group design. This study used a sample consisted of 30 Wistars (Rattus novergicus) and was divided into two groups based on periodontal tissue sampling as follows treatment group which was treated with extracts Moringa and control group with aquadest irrigation after bacterial induction in the gingival sulcus. Blood samples were taken on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 and centrifuged obtain blood serum and serum cytokine levels (pg/mL) were quantified using a commercial ELISA IL-6 kit. RESULTS: This study obtained the results that there was a decrease in IL-6 in both groups on the 3rd day of observation (D3) where the treatment group given Moringa extract showed a greater decrease in IL-6 levels compared to the control group. There is a significant value in the comparison of IL-6 levels between the two groups with p-value: 0.000 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Moringa oleifera leaf extract showed the anti-inflammatory effect on inflammation induced by the bacterium P. gingivalis. M. oleifera extract can reduce the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 induced by P. gingivalis bacteria in periodontitis.

Global survey of medicinal plants during lactation and postpartum recovery: Evolutionary perspectives and contemporary health implications

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cross-cultural comparison of plants used during lactation and the postpartum period offers insight into a largely overlooked area of ethnopharmacological research. Potential roles of phytochemicals in emerging models of interaction among immunity, inflammation, microbiome and nervous system effects on perinatal development have relevance for the life-long health of individuals and of populations in both traditional and contemporary contexts.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Delineate and interpret patterns of traditional and contemporary global use of medicinal plants ingested by mothers during the postpartum period relative to phytochemical activity on immune development and gastrointestinal microbiome of breastfed infants, and on maternal health.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Published reviews and surveys on galactagogues and postpartum recovery practices plus ethnobotanical studies from around the world were used to identify and rank plants, and ascertain regional use patterns. Scientific literature for 20 most-cited plants based on frequency of publication was assessed for antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antidepressant, analgesic, galactagogic and safety properties.

RESULTS

From compilation of 4418 use reports related to 1948 species, 105 plant taxa were recorded ≥7 times, with the most frequently cited species, Foeniculum vulgare, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Pimpinella anisum, Euphorbia hirta and Asparagus racemosus, 81, 64, 42, 40 and 38 times, respectively. Species and use vary globally, illustrated by the pattern of aromatic plants of culinary importance versus latex-producing plants utilized in North Africa/Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa with opposing predominance. For 18/20 of the plants a risk/benefit perspective supports assessment that positive immunomodulation and related potential exceed any safety concerns. Published evidence does not support a lactation-enhancing effect for nearly all the most-cited plants while antidepressant data for the majority of plants are predominately limited to animal studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Within a biocultural context traditional postpartum plant use serves adaptive functions for the mother-infant dyad and contributes phytochemicals absent in most contemporary diets and patterns of ingestion, with potential impacts on allergic, inflammatory and other conditions. Polyphenolics and other phytochemicals are widely immunologically active, present in breast milk and predominately non-toxic. Systematic analysis of phytochemicals in human milk, infant lumen and plasma, and immunomodulatory studies that differentiate maternal ingestion during lactation from pregnancy, are needed. Potential herb-drug interaction and other adverse effects should remain central to obstetric advising, but unless a plant is specifically shown as harmful, considering potential contributions to health of individuals and populations, blanket advisories against postpartum herbal use during lactation appear empirically unwarranted.