The Future of Moringa Foods: A Food Chemistry Perspective

Characterisation of complementary feeding practice and locally available climate-resilient crops for complementary food among agro-pastoralists of Ethiopia: a qualitative study

The current study aims to characterise the complementary feeding practice and identify locally available climate-resilient crops that can be used for complementary feeding among agro-pastoralists in Ethiopia. A phenomenological study in Benna-Tsemay district, comprising focused group discussions, key informant interviews, and household observations, was conducted. A pretested guide was used to capture information regarding types of complementary food, lists of food items, and ingredients included in their complementary formulation. A thematic analysis for emerging points of discussion was carried out. Three major themes, including infant and young child feeding practices, food items included in complementary food, and their consumption frequencies, as well as the incorporation of climate-resilient crops into complementary foods as coping mechanisms, emerged. Breastfeeding was common and regarded as essential. Gruel and porridge from grains, roots, and tubers were regular parts of complementary foods in the study area. Moringa and sorghum were dominantly identified as climate-resilient crops regularly grown and used in complementary foods. Growing these crops was regarded as a coping strategy for drought and seasonal constraints. The district is one of the most drought-prone areas in Ethiopia, compromising the quality of complementary food. Unlike the World Health Organization recommendation, the grains, roots, and tubers-based diet formed the basis of complementary food lacking flesh foods, eggs, pulses, and other fruits and vegetables. Thus, it is recommended to improve complementary food quality through value-addition using locally accessible crops.

Response surface methodology directed modeling of the biosorption of progesterone onto acid activated Moringa oleifera seed biomass: Parameters and mechanisms

In this study, chemically activated fat-free powdered Moringa oleifera seed biomass (MOSB) was synthesized, characterized, and utilized as a cost-effective biosorbent for the abstraction of progesterone (PGT) hormone from synthetic wastewater. Natural PGT is a human steroid hormone from the progestogen family. Synthetic PGT is approved for the regulation of the menstrual cycle, aiding contraception, and is administered as a hormone replacement therapy in menopausal and post-menopausal women. PGT is an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) with negative health impacts on biota. The X-ray diffractogram (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy-Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) analyses displayed a porous, amorphous biosorbent with an elemental composition of 72.5% carbon and 22.5% oxygen and a specific surface area of 210.0 m2 g-1. The process variables including temperature (298-338 K), pH (2-10), contact time (10-180 min), adsorbate concentration (20-500 μg L-1), and adsorbent dosage (0.1-2.0 g) were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) to obtain the greatest efficacy of MOSB during biosorption of PGT. The optimum parameters for PGT biosorption onto MOSB were: 86.8 min, 500 μg L-1 adsorbate concentration, 298 K, and 0.1 g adsorbent dosage. PGT removal from aqueous solutions was pH-independent. The Langmuir isotherm best fitted the equilibrium data with maximal monolayer biosorption capacity of 135.8 μg g-1. The biosorption rate followed the pseudo-first-order (PFO) kinetic law. The thermodynamic functions (ΔG < 0, ΔH = -9.258 kJ mol-1 and ΔS = +44.16 J mol-1) confirmed that the biosorption of PGT onto MOSB is a spontaneous and exothermic process with increased randomness at the adsorbent surface. The biosorption mechanism was physisorption and was devoid of electrostatic interactions. The findings from this study indicate that MOSB is an inexpensive, low-carbon, and environmentally friendly biosorbent that can effectively scavenge PGT from aqueous solutions.

Supplementation with Moringa oleifera Lam leaf and seed flour during the pregnancy and lactation period of Wistar rats: Maternal evaluation of initial and adult neurobehavioral development of the rat progeny

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Moringa oleifera Lam. (M. oleifera) is a tree species of Indian origin popularly known as the "tree of life". In various cultures, it is used by pregnant women to increase milk production, yet studies on its effects during pregnancy and lactation are lacking.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the nutraceutical aspects of flours produced from the leaves and seeds of M. oleifera, and to evaluate the effect of supplementation of pregnant Wistar rats during the gestation and lactation period, with the aim of studying the weight gain and neonatal parameters of the pregnant rats, as well as effects on the neurobehavioral development and memory in their offspring.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The flour supplementation was conducted at a concentration of 100 mg per kg of animal body weight. For the memory tests, the Open Field Habituation test was performed and repeated after seven days. The Object Recognition test was conducted with the animal exposed to the open field in short and long familiarization sessions. The data obtained were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis tests for non-parametric data and one-way and two-way ANOVA for parametric data.

RESULTS

Flour produced from both the leaf and seed of M. oleifera was found to contain significant amounts of nutrients (protein, fibre, carbohydrates, etc.), making them suitable for supplementation. The exposure of pregnant rats to M. oleifera leaf and seed flours did not affect weight gain, did not have harmful effects on the birth of offspring, and did not result in abortions or mutations in the offspring. Regarding the supplemented group's offspring, early maturation of the senses in the offspring compared to the control group was observed in all tests were conducted; indicating that supplementation positively impacted cognitive development. Further, the offspring of the supplemented rats presented reduced locomotion and greater exploration of new objects compared to the control group offspring, indicating positive effects on learning.

CONCLUSION

This study describes for the first time the beneficial effects on pregnant Wistar rats and their offspring of maternal supplementation with flour products from the leaves and seeds of M. oleifera.

Influence of Different Rates of Plant-Based Compost on Clay Soil Metal Behavior and Human Health Risk Assessment in Moringa oleifera Leaf Biomass

An investigation of the impact of adding plant-based organic compost to clay soil from a Moringa oleifera farm focusing on the metal content, bioavailability, and accumulation of nutrients in M. oleifera leaves was conducted. Clay soil was mixed with 15%, 30%, 45% and 60% plant-based organic compost (by volume) in 20 cm wide, 2 L pots. Moringa oleifera plants were planted in four replicates of each treatment and control group. Results revealed that the addition of compost significantly (P < 0.05) altered the concentration of metals in the soil. Correspondingly, accumulation of nutrients in M. oleifera leaves increased with the addition of compost to the soil, except for cobalt and chromium. Trace elements had minimal bioavailability in the amended soils, and their presence in the leaves was lower than the permissible trace metal levels in food. The 30% combination had the highest concentration of calcium (45 042.5 mg/kg), magnesium (17430.0 mg/kg) and phosphorous (8802. 5 mg/kg) in M. oleifera leaves. The study concluded the addition of compost improved bioavailability of nutrients in the soil and their concentration in M. oleifera leaves. The target hazard quotients for heavy metals was less than one, indicating that M. oleifera leaf biomass harvested from soil amended with plant-based compost is safe for human consumption. These results serve as guidelines for recommended organic certification requiremets where plant-based compost is often used in the fast-growing herbal industry.

Moringa oleifera: a valuable insight into recent advances in medicinal uses and pharmacological activities

Moringa oleifera is an important medicinal plant in several countries; for example, Nigeria, the USA, Turkey, Germany, Greece, and Ukraine. The abundant bioactive and nutritional properties of this plant make it useful in many and diverse areas of life, including the health, cosmetic, agricultural, and food industries to mention but a few. Research has found that the presence of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, fatty acids, saponins, essential oils, folate, aromatic hydrocarbons, sterols, glucosinolates, and glycosides, among others, characterize the moringa nutrient profile and, as a result, give rise to its remedial effects on ailments such as wounds, stomach and duodenal ulcers, allergies, obesity, diabetes, inflammation, asthma, and so on. It is the aim of this review to provide an insight into such medicinal and pharmacological remedies attributed to moringa, stating both the past and recent discoveries. This review article also takes a look into the botanical features, bioactive compounds, antinutrients, food applications, bacterial fermentation products, biosafety, industrial applications, and other uses of moringa. Finally, with the belief that knowledge is progressive, we acknowledge that there are things yet undiscovered about this wonder plant that will be of value both to medicine and general life; we therefore recommend that research work continues on the moringa plant. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Nutritional Value, Volatile Components, Functional Metabolites, and Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activities of Different Parts of Millettia speciosa Champ., a Medicinal and Edible Plant with Potential for Development

Highly nutritious traditional plants which are rich in bioactive substances are attracting increasing attention. In this study, the nutritional value, chemical composition, biological activities, and feed indices of different parts of Millettia speciosa were comprehensively evaluated. In terms of its nutritional value, this study demonstrated that the leaves, flowers and seeds of M. speciosa were rich in elements and amino acids; the biological values (BVs) of these ingredients ranged from 85% to 100%, showing the extremely high nutritional value of this plant. GC-MS analysis suggested that the main chemical components of the flower volatile oil were n-hexadecanoic acid (21.73%), tetracosane (19.96%), and pentacosane (5.86%). The antibacterial activities of the flower and seed extracts were significantly stronger than those of the leaves and branches. The leaf extract displayed the strongest antifungal activities (EC50 values: 18.28 ± 0.54 μg/mL for Pseudocryphonectria elaeocarpicola and 568.21 ± 33.60 μg/mL for Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) and were the least toxic to mouse fibroblasts (L929) (IC50 value: 0.71 ± 0.04 mg/mL), while flowers were the most toxic (IC50 value: 0.27 ± 0.03 mg/mL). In addition, the abundance of fiber, protein, mineral elements, and functional metabolite contents indicated the potential applicability of M. speciosa as an animal feed. In conclusion, as a traditional herbal plant used for medicinal and food purposes, M. speciosa shows potential for safe and multifunctional development.

Assessment of hepatoprotective, nephroprotective efficacy, and antioxidative potential of Moringa oleifera leaf powder and ethanolic extract against PCOS-induced female albino mice (Mus Musculus)

Moringa oleifera is a medicinal plant that has anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, tissue-protective, and antioxidant activities. Here, we evaluated the protective effect of M. oleifera leaf powder (MoLP) and 70% ethanol M. oleifera leaf extract (MoLE) on mitigating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-induced liver and kidney dysfunction via regulating oxidative stress in female albino mice (Mus musculus). The efficacy of M. oleifera was compared with metformin (standard medicine used to treat infertility in women). PCOS was induced by intramuscular injection of testosterone enanthate at 1.0 mg/100 g BW for 35 days. PCOS-induced mice were treated with MoLP (250 and 500 mg/Kg), MoLE (250 and 500 mg/kg), and metformin (250 mg/kg) orally for 14 days. Renal function test (RFT), liver function test (LFT), and oxidative stress biomarker malondialdehyde (MDA) were quantified in serum at 0, 7, and 14 days of intervention. Mice treated with M. oleifera and metformin showed a significant decrease (p < .001) in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphate (ALP), total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, and a significant increase (p < .001) in total protein, albumin, globulin, and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. Oxidative stress decreased significantly (p = .00) with respect to treatments, exposure days, and their interaction in metformin and all M. oleifera-treated groups. M. oleifera leaf powder and extract reduce oxidative stress and enhance nephron-hepatic activity in PCOS-induced female albino mice.

Silage preparation and sustainable livestock production of natural woody plant

As the global population increases and the economy grows rapidly, the demand for livestock products such as meat, egg and milk continue to increase. The shortage of feed in livestock production is a worldwide problem restricting the development of the animal industry. Natural woody plants are widely distributed and have a huge biomass yield. The fresh leaves and branches of some woody plants are rich in nutrients such as proteins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals and can be used to produce storage feed such as silage for livestock. Therefore, the development and utilization of natural woody plants for clean fermented feed is important for the sustainable production of livestock product. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the research progress, current status and development prospects of forageable natural woody plant feed resources. The nutritional composition and uses of natural woody plants, the main factors affecting the fermentation of woody plant silage and the interaction mechanism between microbial co-occurrence network and secondary metabolite are reviewed. Various preparation technologies for clean fermentation of woody plant silage were summarized comprehensively, which provided a sustainable production mode for improving the production efficiency of livestock and producing high-quality livestock product. Therefore, woody plants play an increasingly important role as a potential natural feed resource in alleviating feed shortage and promoting sustainable development of livestock product.

Moringa oleifera and Propolis in Cattle Nutrition: Characterization of Metabolic Activities in the Rumen In Vitro

Moringa oleifera by-products such as seed cake and leaves are protein-rich ingredients, while raw propolis has the potential to influence ruminal protein metabolism. These substances are also known to be sources of functional compounds. With these properties, they could modulate ruminal fermentation activities. Using the rumen simulation technique, we investigated ruminal fermentation and the antioxidant properties of four dietary treatments. These included a control diet (CON) without supplementation; the CON diet top-dressed on a dry matter (DM) basis, either with moringa seed cake (MSC, containing 49% crude protein (CP)), moringa leaf powder (ML, containing 28% CP), or raw propolis (PRO, 3% CP). MSC, ML, and PRO accounted for 3.8, 7.4, and 0.1% of the total diet DM, respectively. Both ML and MSC resulted in 14 and 27% more ammonia concentration, respectively than CON and PRO (p < 0.05). MSC increased the propionate percentage at the expense of acetate (p < 0.05). Both ML and MSC decreased methane percentages by 7 and 10%, respectively, compared to CON (p < 0.05). The antioxidant capacity of the moringa seed cake, moringa leaf powder, and raw propolis were 1.14, 0.56, and 8.56 mg Trolox/g DM, respectively. However, such differences were not evident in the fermentation fluid. In conclusion, the supplementation of moringa seed cake desirably modulates rumen microbial activities related to protein and carbohydrate metabolism.

Miracle Tree Moringa oleifera: Status of the Genetic Diversity, Breeding, In Vitro Propagation, and a Cogent Source of Commercial Functional Food and Non-Food Products

Moringa oleifera Lam. (MO) is a fast-growing drought-resistant tree belonging to the family Moringaceae and native to the Indian subcontinent and cultivated and/or naturalized worldwide with a semi-arid climate. MO is also popularly known as a miracle tree for its repertoire of nutraceutical, pharmacological, and phytochemical properties. The MO germplasm is collected, conserved, and maintained by various institutions across the globe. Various morphological, biochemical, and molecular markers are used for determining the genetic diversity in MO accessions. A higher yield of leaves and pods is often desirable for making various products with commercial viability and amenable for trade in the international market. Therefore, breeding elite varieties adapted to local agroclimatic conditions and in vitro propagation are viable and sustainable approaches. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of MO germplasm conservation and various markers that are employed for assessing the genetic diversity among them. Further, breeding and in vitro propagation of MO for various desirable agronomic traits are discussed. Finally, trade and commerce of various functional and biofortified foods and non-food products are enumerated albeit with a need for a rigorous and stringent toxicity evaluation.

Crude Polysaccharide Extracted From Moringa oleifera Leaves Prevents Obesity in Association With Modulating Gut Microbiota in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice

Moringa oleifera is a commonly used plant with high nutritional and medicinal values. M. oleifera leaves are considered a new food resource in China. However, the biological activities of M. oleifera polysaccharides (MOP) in regulating gut microbiota and alleviating obesity remain obscure. In the present study, we prepared the MOP and evaluated its effects on obesity and gut microbiota in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced C57BL/6J mice. The experimental mice were supplemented with a normal chow diet (NCD group), a high-fat diet (HFD group), and HFD along with MOP at a different dose of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/d, respectively. Physiological, histological, biochemical parameters, genes related to lipid metabolism, and gut microbiota composition were compared among five experimental groups. The results showed that MOP supplementation effectively prevented weight gain and lipid accumulation induced by HFD, ameliorated blood lipid levels and insulin resistance, alleviated the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and regulated the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism and bile acid metabolism. In addition, MOP positively reshaped the gut microbiota composition, significantly increasing the abundance of Bacteroides, norank_f_Ruminococcaceae, and Oscillibacter, while decreasing the relative abundance of Blautia, Alistipes, and Tyzzerella, which are closely associated with obesity. These results demonstrated that MOP supplementation has a protective effect against HFD-induced obesity in mice, which was associated with reshaping the gut microbiota. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the potential of MOP to prevent obesity and modulating gut microbiota, which suggests that MOP can be used as a potential prebiotic.