Moringa oleifera Seeds and Oil: Characteristics and Uses for Human Health

Technological innovations in margarine production: Current trends and future perspectives on trans-fat removal and saturated fat replacement

The margarine market is growing globally due to its lower cost, ease of availability, large-scale commercialization, and expanding market in the bakery and confectionary industries. Butter contains greater amounts of saturated fat and has been associated with cardiovascular diseases. The trans fats generated through the hydrogenation process have several adverse impacts on human health, such as the risk of atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, postmenopausal breast cancer, vision and neurological system impairment, type II diabetes, and obesity. Therefore, it is important to formulate margarine, low in saturated and trans fats using innovative technologies such as novel hydrogenation, interesterification techniques, and oleogel technology. By utilizing these technologies and oils with a healthy lipid profile, margarine manufacturers are able to produce healthier margarine. This review covers recent technological advancements in margarine, which include various hydrogenation techniques such as high-voltage atmospheric cold plasma hydrogenation, microwave plasma hydrogenation, dielectric-barrier discharge plasma hydrogenation, and interesterification based on supercritical CO2 systems. In addition, the application of interesterified oil and oleogel (structured vegetable oils) in the production of margarine low in saturated fat is comprehensively discussed, with emphasis on the utilization of unconventional sources of oils such as tiger nut oil, Moringa oleifera seed oil, Irvingia gabonensis seed fat, winged bean oil, and hemp seed oil. The novel hydrogenation techniques can hydrogenate oils without formation of trans fats, and such hydrogenated oils could be employed in the formulation of trans-fat-free margarine. Interesterified oil treated with supercritical CO2 was employed in healthy margarine development. Using the oleogel technique, various unconventional oil sources can be used in margarine formulations. The incorporation of oleogel in margarine makes it possible to improve the lipid profile of margarine due to a reduction in saturated fat content. All of these novel techniques have the potential to revolutionize the margarine industry by enabling the production of high-quality, healthy margarine.

Schistosomicidal Effects of Moringa oleifera Seed Oil Extract on Schistosoma mansoni-Infected Mice

Schistosomiasis causes severe hepatic fibrosis, making it a global health issue. Moringa oleifera seed oil extract, which had antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, was investigated as an alternative treatment. The 50 mice were divided into control, infected, praziquantel-treated, M. oleifera seed oil extract-treated and combined treatment groups. These treatments were examined for their effects on egg granulomas, hepatic enzymes, total protein, albumin, antioxidant enzymes and pro-inflammatory cytokines. M. oleifera seed oil and/or PZQ significantly reduced egg numbers, granuloma size and liver histopathology. M. oleifera seed oil reduced hepatic enzyme activity, increased total protein and albumin, and increased antioxidant enzyme activity while decreasing malondialdehyde. M. oleifera seed oil reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. M. oleifera seed oil may treat schistosomiasis instead of PZQ due to its antifibrotic, immunomodulatory and schistosomicidal properties.

Moringa oleifera hydroalcoholic leaf extracts mitigate valproate-induced oxidative status in the extraorbital lacrimal gland in a rat model

Dysfunction of the extraorbital lacrimal gland (ELG) can lead to loss of vision due to damage to the epithelium of cornea. The broad-spectrum anti-epileptic drug sodium valproate (SV) has numerous side effects. Moringa oleifera (M.oleifera) is widely used as a food and in folk medicine. The effects of orally administered SV and M. oleifera hydroalcoholic leaf extract on rat ELG were investigated in this study by analysing both antioxidant and oxidant parameters. Additionally, boron level and tissue factor (TF) activity were determined. Protein changes were detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Significantly lower values of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant status (TAS) were observed in the SV group compared to the control group. Treatment with Moringa extract significantly increased SOD, CAT and TAS values in the Moringa given SV group (SVM). While no significant differences were observed between the sialic acid values of the groups, lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO) and total oxidant status (TOS) values were significantly elevated in the SV group compared to the control group. Due to the effect of Moringa extract, LPO, NO and TOS levels were significantly decreased in the SVM group compared to the SV group. TF activity was not meaningfully altered between groups. Compared to control rats, oxidative stress index (OSI) level significantly increased, whereas the boron level decreased in the SV group. Moringa extract treatment noticeably reduced OSI in the SVM group. According to SDS-PAGE, decreases in the density of protein bands with molecular weights of 51, 83, and 90 kDa were observed in SV given rats compared to the other groups. These decreases were reversed by the administration of Moringa extract. Moringa extract has shown protective properties arising from antioxidant potential, especially with its very low OSI value. Individuals undergoing SV treatment and having ELG complications might consider using Moringa extract to mitigate valproate induced damage.

Dermatoprotective effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on sodium valproate-induced skin damage in rats

Valproic acid is an antiepileptic drug associated with skin-related issues like excessive hair growth, hair loss, and skin rashes. In contrast, Moringa oleifera, rich in nutrients and antioxidants, is gaining popularity worldwide for its medicinal properties. The protective properties of M. oleifera extract against skin-related side effects caused by valproic acid were investigated. Female rats were divided into control groups and experimental groups such as moringa, sodium valproate, and sodium valproate + moringa groups. A 70% ethanolic extract of moringa (0.3 g/kg/day) was given to moringa groups, and a single dose of sodium valproate (0.5 g/kg/day) was given to valproate groups for 15 days. In the skin samples, antioxidant parameters (such as glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and total antioxidant capacity), as well as oxidant parameters representing oxidative stress (i.e. lipid peroxidation, sialic acid, nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, and total oxidant capacity), were examined. Additionally, boron, hydroxyproline, sodium-potassium ATPase, and tissue factor values were determined. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was also carried out for protein analysis in the skin samples. The results showed that moringa could increase glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, sodium-potassium ATPase, and boron levels, while decreasing lipid peroxidation, sialic acid, nitric oxide, total oxidant capacity, reactive oxygen species, hydroxyproline, and tissue factor levels. These findings imply that moringa possesses the potential to mitigate dermatological side effects.

Antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory potential of Moringa seed and Moringa seed oil: A comprehensive approach

Moringa oleifera, a widely recognized plant more commonly known as moringa, has obtained significant research interest in recent years due to its prospective physiological advantages, including its claimed ability to counteract carcinogenesis. The moringa plant has been found to possess bioactive components that exhibit promising anticancer activities against different human cancers, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, etc. The cytotoxic properties of moringa seed extracts on cancerous cells have also been provided in this paper along with other notable health benefits. The extracts derived from moringa seeds inhibit cancer proliferation and promote cancer cell apoptosis through multiple signaling pathways. They also stimulated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and subsequently induced caspase-3 activity. The impact of moringin and avenanthramide 2f on the stimulation of caspases 2, 4, 8, and 9 results in reduction in the proliferation of cancer cells. The results reported by research studies hold significant implications for identifying and targeting specific molecular entities that could serve as potential therapeutic targets in search of effective cancer treatments. Furthermore, the flavonoids in moringa seed can remove mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, protecting beta cells and bringing hyperglycemia under control. M. oleifera seed oil can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases via reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and modulation of cardiac superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. This article provides a comprehensive summary of the noteworthy discoveries derived from a rigorous investigation that explored into the impact of moringa seeds on the prevention/reduction of various cancers and other complex diseases.

Fatty Acid Profile and Physicochemical Properties of Moringa oleifera Seed Oil Extracted at Different Temperatures

Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) is a tropical plant native to India. It is widespread throughout the southern hemisphere, with great adaptability to high temperatures and water scarcity. Its seeds have a great amount of oil with a high content of oleic acid, quite similar to olive oil. Therefore, this study is focused on the extraction of oil from moringa seeds via an automatic screw press extractor at different temperatures (70, 100, 130, 160, 190, and 220 °C) and on the analysis of its acidity, acid value, peroxide value (PV), saponification value (SV), iodine value (IV), optical properties, and fatty acids profile. The results showed that the oil yield was 19 ± 3% regardless of the temperature applied. The oil was stable from the oxidative point of view, with a high acidity. Temperature extraction did not significantly affect the SV and the IV. However, the extraction temperature should be below 190 °C to obtain a translucent and luminous oil with light yellow tones. The oil contains high levels of unsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic acid (ω9) (up to 77.8%) and linolenic acid (ω3) (3.4%). On the other hand, behenic (7%), palmitic (6%), stearic (5%), and arachidic (0.2%) were the dominant saturated acids. The good properties of moringa oil make it a good, sustainable alternative to vegetable oils.

Antiviral Properties of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extracts against Respiratory Viruses

Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) is a plant widely used for its beneficial properties both in medical and non-medical fields. Because they produce bioactive metabolites, plants are a major resource for drug discovery. In this study, two different cultivars of leaves of M. oleifera (Salento and Barletta) were obtained by maceration or microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). We demonstrated that extracts obtained by MAE exhibited a lower cytotoxic profile compared to those obtained by maceration at concentrations ranged from 25 to 400 µg/mL, on both Vero CCL-81 and Vero/SLAM cells. We examined their antiviral properties against two viruses, i.e., the human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) and measles virus (MeV), which are both responsible for respiratory infections. The extracts were able to inhibit the infection of both viruses and strongly prevented their attack and entry into the cells in a range of concentrations from 50 to 12 µg/mL. Particularly active was the variety of Salento that registered a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) at 21 µg/mL for HCoV-229E and at 6 µg/mL for MeV. We identified the presence of several compounds through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); in particular, chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids, quercetin 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (QGP), and glucomoringin (GM) were mainly observed. In the end, M. oleifera can be considered a promising candidate for combating viral infections with a very strong action in the early stages of viral life cycle, probably by destructuring the viral particles blocking the virus-cell fusion.

Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles via Moringa oleifera seed extract: antioxidant, antibacterial and anticarcinogenic activity on lung cancer

Plant-mediated biosynthesis of nanoparticles is a green method that allows synthesis in one-pot process. Synthesis of gold nanoparticles with plant extracts has gained interest in the field of biomedicine due to its variety of applications. This study presents the synthesis via green chemistry of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using the methanol extract of Moringa oleifera seeds. The AuNPs were synthesized at room temperature. UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed the formation of AuNPs by identifying the surface plasmon resonance located at 546 nm. TEM analysis shows spherical nanoparticles. FTIR analysis demonstrated the presence of specific bioactive molecules responsible for the Au3+ ion reduction process. The antioxidant activity of the nanoparticles was evaluated on the stabilization of the DPPH radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) hydrazyl). The antimicrobial activity analysis was developed by broth microdilution method at different concentrations against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Minimum inhibitory concentration were 400 µg/mL and 200 µg/mL, respectively. A549 lung cancer cell proliferation was measured according to the MTT protocol, indicating a dose-dependent response and a IC50 of 163.9 ± 13.27 µg/mL. The AuNPs synthesized using M. oleifera seeds showed promise as active materials for antimicrobial or anticancer products.

Exploring the potential of Moringa oleifera Lam in skin disorders and cosmetics: nutritional analysis, phytochemistry, geographical distribution, ethnomedicinal uses, dermatological studies and cosmetic formulations

Moringa oleifera Lam. is a pan-tropical plant well known to the ancient world for its extensive therapeutic benefits in the Ayurvedic and Unani medical systems. The ancient world was familiar with this tree, but it has only lately been rediscovered as a multifunctional species with a huge range of possible therapeutic applications. It is a folk remedy for skin diseases, edema, sore gums, etc. This review comprises the history, ethnomedicinal applications, botanical characteristics, geographic distribution, propagation, nutritional and phytochemical profile, dermatological effects, and commercially available cosmeceuticals of Moringa oleifera Lam.Compilation of all the presented data has been done by employing various search engines like Science Direct, Google, PubMed, Research Gate, EBSCO, SciVal, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar.Studies on phytochemistry claim the presence of a variety of substances, including fatty acids, phenolic acids, sterols, oxalates, tocopherols, carotenoids, flavonoids, flavonols glycosides, tannins, terpenoids, terpene, saponins, phylates, alkaloids, glucosinolates, glycosides, and isothiocyanate. The pharmacological studies have shown the efficacy of Moringa oleifera Lam. as an antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-atopic dermatitis, antipsoriatic, promoter of wound healing, effective in treating herpes simplex virus, photoprotective, and UV protective. As a moisturizer, conditioner, hair growth promoter, cleanser, antiwrinkle, anti-aging, anti-acne, scar removal, pigmentation, and control for skin infection, sores, as well as sweating, it has also been utilized in a range of cosmeceuticals.he Moringa oleifera Lam. due to its broad range of phytochemicals can be proven boon for the treatment of dermatological disorders.

Moringa, Milk Thistle, and Jujube Seed Cold-Pressed Oils: Characteristic Profiles, Thermal Properties, and Oxidative Stability

Cold-pressed moringa, milk thistle, and jujube seed oils were investigated in terms of their characteristic profiles, thermal properties, and oxidative stability. The findings proved that the extracted oils were characterized by high nutritional values, which encourages their use in various fields. Results showed significant differences between the obtained oils. Overall, jujube seed oil exhibited the best quality parameters, with acidity equal to 0.762 versus 1% for the moringa and milk thistle seed oils. Milk thistle seed oil showed absorbance in the UV-C (100-290 nm), UV-B (290-320 nm), and UV-A (320-400 nm) ranges, while the moringa and jujube seed oils showed absorbance only in the UV-B and UV-A ranges. Concerning bioactive compounds, jujube seed oil presented the highest content of polyphenols, which promoted a good scavenging capacity (90% at 10 µg/mL) compared to the moringa and milk thistle seed oils. Assessing the thermal properties of the obtained oils showed the presence of four groups of triglycerides in the moringa and milk thistle seed oils, and two groups of triglycerides in the jujube seed oil. The thermograms were constant at temperatures above 10 °C for milk thistle seed oil, 15 °C for jujube seed oil, and 30 °C for moringa seed oil, which corresponded to complete liquefaction of the oils. The extinction coefficients K232 and K270, monitored during storage for 60 days at 60 °C, proved that jujube seed oil had the highest polyphenols content and was the most stable against thermal oxidation.

Effects of drying method and oil type on edible polyunsaturated oleogels co-structured by hydroxylpropyl methyl cellulose and xanthan gum

The subtle balance between the interactions of polysaccharide molecules and the interactions of polysaccharide molecules with oil molecules is significantly important for developing polysaccharide-based polyunsaturated oleogels. Here, hydroxylpropyl methyl cellulose and xanthan gum were used to structure edible oleogels via emulsion-template methodology, while the effects of drying methods (hot-air drying (AD) and vacuum-freeze drying (FD)) and oil types (walnut, flaxseed and Moringa seed oil) on the structure, oil binding capacity (OBC), rheological properties, thermal behaviors and stability of oleogels were specially investigated. Compared with AD oleogels, FD oleogels exhibited significantly better OBC, enhanced gelation strength (G' value) and better capacity to holding oil after high temperature processing, which was attributed to the possibly increased oil-polysaccharide interactions. However, the weakened polysaccharide-polysaccharide interactions in FD oleogels failed in providing stronger physical interface or enough rigidity to restrict the migration of oil molecules. Polyunsaturated triacylglycerols in vegetable oils deeply participated in the construction of the network of AD oleogels through weak intermolecular non-covalent interactions, which in turn greatly changed the crystallization and melting behaviors of vegetables oils. In brief, this research may provide useful information for the development of polysaccharide-based polyunsaturated oil oleogels.

Characterization of Moringa oleifera Seed Oil for the Development of a Biopackage Applied to Maintain the Quality of Turkey Ham

Moringa oleifera has a high level of active chemicals that are useful in the food industry, and they have antibacterial and food preservation properties. The characterization of M. oleifera seed oil (MOS) may vary due to agronomic and environmental factors. Therefore, it was necessary to know the composition of lipids present in our oil extracted under pressing at 180 °C and thus determine if it is suitable to produce a biopackaging. Within the characterization of the oil, it was obtained that MOS presented high-quality fatty acids (71% oleic acid) with low values of acidity (0.71 mg KOH/g) and peroxide (1.74 meq O2/kg). Furthermore, MOS was not very sensitive to lipoperoxidation by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBuOOH) and its phenolic components, oleic acid and tocopherols, allowed MOS to present a recovery of 70% after 30 min of treatment. Subsequently, a biopackaging was developed using a multiple emulsion containing corn starch/carboxymethylcellulose/glycerol/MOS, which presented good mechanical properties (strength and flexibility), transparency, and a barrier that prevents the transfer of UV light by 30% and UV-C by 98%, as well as a flux with the atmosphere of 5.12 × 10-8 g/ m.s. Pa that prevents moisture loss and protects the turkey ham from O2. Hence, the turkey ham suffered less weight loss and less hardness due to its preservation in the biopackaging.

The Bioactivity and Physicochemical Properties of Emulsions Based on Tamanu, Moringa, and Inca Inchi Oils

With increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics, novel strategies for protection against microbial infections are crucial. Emulsions enhance the solubility of natural antibacterial oils and their uptake, making them promising drug delivery systems. However, it is important to find the right emulsifier to ensure that the oil has the right dispersion and does not adversely affect its antibacterial properties. Hence, this study investigated emulsions created from three vegetable oils: moringa oil from Moringa oleifera seeds, inca inchi oil from Plukenetia volubilis seeds, and tamanu oil from the Calophyllum inophyllum fruit. Emulsions were formed using two natural emulsifiers, lecithin and casein, at concentrations of 2.5%, 5%, and 10% (w/w). The study assessed the oil and emulsions' characteristics, including the zeta potential, creaming index, and particle size distribution. The antimicrobial properties of these oils and the most stable emulsions were examined. Gas chromatography was used to analyze the oil compositions. The potential antimicrobial properties of emulsions formulated with natural oils was proved. Particularly noteworthy were emulsions containing a 2.5% inca inchi or tamanu oil, stabilized with casein. The particle size ranged between 100 nm and 900 nm with the average size 300 nm. These emulsions also showed antibacterial activity against selected strains, and the strongest effect was observed for the system with inca inchi oil, which reduced S. epidermidis bacterial activity by more than 60%. Therefore, it can be expected that the completed research will allow the development of antibacterial systems based on inca inchi or tamanu oils for use in the food 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.

Innovative Bioactive Nanofibrous Materials Combining Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Extracts and Electrospinning Method

Since antiquity, humans have known about plants as a medicinal cure. Recently, plant extracts are attracting more attention as a result of their natural origin and wide range of desirable features. Nanotechnology's progress and innovations enable the production of novel materials with enhanced properties for a broad range of applications. Electrospinning is a cutting-edge, flexible and economical technique that allows the creation of continuous nano- and microfibrous membranes with tunable structure, characteristics and functionalities. Electrospun fibrous materials are used in drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound healing, cosmetics, food packaging, agriculture and other fields due to their useful properties such as a large surface area to volume ratio and high porosity with small pore size. By encapsulating plant extracts in a suitable polymer matrix, electrospinning can increase the medicinal potential of these extracts, thus improving their bioavailability and maintaining the required concentration of bioactive compounds at the target site. Moreover, the created hybrid fibrous materials could possess antimicrobial, antifungal, antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that make the obtained structures attractive for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. This review summarizes the known approaches that have been applied to fabricate fibrous materials loaded with diverse plant extracts by electrospinning. Some potential applications of the extract-containing micro- and nanofibers such as wound dressings, drug delivery systems, scaffolds for tissue engineering and active food packaging systems are discussed.

Essential Components from Plant Source Oils: A Review on Extraction, Detection, Identification, and Quantification

Oils derived from plant sources, mainly fixed oils from seeds and essential oil from other parts of the plant, are gaining interest as they are the rich source of beneficial compounds that possess potential applications in different industries due to their preventive and therapeutic actions. The essential oils are used in food, medicine, cosmetics, and agriculture industries as they possess antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Plant based oils contain polyphenols, phytochemicals, and bioactive compounds which show high antioxidant activity. The extractions of these oils are a crucial step in terms of the yield and quality attributes of plant oils. This review paper outlines the different modern extraction techniques used for the extraction of different seed oils, including microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), cold-pressed extraction (CPE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), supercritical-fluid extraction (SFE), enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE), and pulsed electric field-assisted extraction (PEF). For the identification and quantification of essential and bioactive compounds present in seed oils, different modern techniques-such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography-infrared spectroscopy (GC-IR), atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (AFS), and electron microscopy (EM)-are highlighted in this review along with the beneficial effects of these essential components in different in vivo and in vitro studies and in different applications. The primary goal of this research article is to pique the attention of researchers towards the different sources, potential uses and applications of oils in different industries.

Nutritional intervention is promising in alleviating liver injury during tuberculosis treatment: a review

Liver injury is a main adverse effect of first-line tuberculosis drugs. Current management of tuberculosis-drug-induced liver injury (TBLI) mainly relies on withdrawing tuberculosis drugs when necessary. No effective treatment exists. Various nutrients and functional food ingredients may play a protective role in TBLI. However, a comprehensive review has not been conducted to compare the effects of these nutrients and functional food ingredients. We searched Pubmed and Web of Science databases from the earliest date of the database to March 2023. All available in-vitro, animal and clinical studies that examined the effects of nutritional intervention on TBLI were included. The underlying mechanism was briefly reviewed. Folic acid, quercetin, curcumin, Lactobacillus casei, spirulina and Moringa oleifera possessed moderate evidence to have a beneficial effect on alleviating TBLI mostly based on animal studies. The evidence of other nutritional interventions on TBLI was weak. Alleviating oxidative stress and apoptosis were the leading mechanisms for the beneficial effects of nutritional intervention on TBLI. In conclusion, a few nutritional interventions are promising for alleviating TBLI including folic acid, quercetin, curcumin, L. casei, spirulina and M. oleifera, the effectiveness and safety of which need further confirmation by well-designed randomized controlled trials. The mechanisms for the protective role of these nutritional interventions on TBLI warrant further study, particularly by establishing the animal model of TBLI using the tuberculosis drugs separately.

Potential anti-cancer activity of Moringa oleifera derived bio-active compounds targeting hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) will become a highly detected malignancy in females worldwide in 2023, with over 2 million new cases. Studies have established the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α), a transcription factor that controls cellular response to hypoxic stress, and is essential for BC spread. HIF-1 is implicated in nearly every critical stage of the metastatic progression, including invasion, EMT, intravasation, extravasation, angiogenesis, and the formation of metastatic niches. HIF-1 overexpression has been associated with poor prognosis and increased mortality in BC patients. This is accomplished by controlling the expression of HIF-1 target genes involved in cell survival, angiogenesis, metabolism, and treatment resistance. Studies have indicated that inhibiting HIF-1 has an anti-cancer effect on its own and that inhibiting HIF-1-mediated signaling improves the efficacy of anti-cancer therapy. Approximately 74 % of recognized anti-cancer drugs are sourced from plant species. Studies on anti-cancer characteristics of phytochemicals derived from Moringa oleifera (MO), also known as the 'Tree of Life', have revealed a high therapeutic potential for BC. In this review, we have highlighted the various mechanisms through which bioactive compounds present in MO may modulate HIF and its regulatory genes/pathways, to prove their efficacy in treating and preventing BC.

Chemical Characteristics and Thermal Oxidative Stability of Novel Cold-Pressed Oil Blends: GC, LF NMR, and DSC Studies

Plant oils contain a high content of unsaturated fatty acids. Studies of food products have revealed a considerable disproportion in the ratio of ω6 to ω3. This article presents information on the healthful qualities of eight new oil blends that contain a beneficial proportion of ω6 to ω3 fatty acids (5:1), as well as their degradation during heating at 170 and 200 °C. The fatty acid profile was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC), content of polar compounds and polymers of triacylglycerols by liquid chromatography (LC), water content was measured by the Karl Fischer method, and oxidative stability was measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF NMR) methods. The results showed that during heating, the polar fraction content increased in samples heated at both analyzed temperatures compared to unheated oils. This was mainly due to the polymerization of triacylglycerols forming dimers. In some samples that were heated, particularly those heated to 200 °C, trimers were detected, however, even with the changes that were observed, the polar fraction content of the blends did not go beyond the limit. Despite the high content of unsaturated fatty acids, the analyzed blends of oils are characterized by high oxidative stability, confirmed by thermoanalytical and nuclear magnetic resonance methods. The high nutritional value as well as the oxidative stability of the developed oil blends allow them to be used in the production of food, in particular products that ensure an adequate supply of ω3 fatty acids.

In Silico Screening and Identification of Antidiabetic Inhibitors Sourced from Phytochemicals of Philippine Plants against Four Protein Targets of Diabetes (PTP1B, DPP-4, SGLT-2, and FBPase)

Current oral medications for type 2 diabetes target a single main physiological mechanism. They either activate or inhibit receptors to enhance insulin sensitivity, increase insulin secretion, inhibit glucose absorption, or inhibit glucose production. In advanced stages, combination therapy may be required because of the limited efficacy of single-target drugs; however, medications are becoming more costly, and there is also the risk of developing the combined side effects of each drug. Thus, identifying a multi-target drug may be the best strategy to improve treatment efficacy. This study sees the potential of 2657 Filipino phytochemicals as a source of natural inhibitors against four targets of diabetes: PTP1B, DPP-4, SGLT-2, and FBPase. Different computer-aided drug discovery techniques, including ADMET profiling, DFT optimization, molecular docking, MD simulations, and MM/PBSA energy calculations, were employed to elucidate the stability and determine the binding affinity of the candidate ligands. Through in silico methods, we have identified seven potential natural inhibitors against PTP1B, DPP-4, and FBPase, and ten against SGLT-2. Eight plants containing at least one natural inhibitor of each protein target were also identified. It is recommended to further investigate the plants' potential to be transformed into a safe and scientifically validated multi-target drug for diabetes therapies.

Effects of Moringa oleifera Seed Oil on Cultured Human Sebocytes In Vitro and Comparison with Other Oil Types

The seeds of Moringa oleifera (horseradish tree) contain about 40% of one of the most stable vegetable oils (Moringa seed oil). Therefore, the effects of Moringa seed oil on human SZ95 sebocytes were investigated and were compared with other vegetable oils. Immortalized human SZ95 sebocytes were treated with Moringa seed oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, linoleic acid and oleic acid. Lipid droplets were visualized by Nile Red fluorescence, cytokine secretion via cytokine antibody array, cell viability with calcein-AM fluorescence, cell proliferation by real-time cell analysis, and fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography. Statistical analysis was performed by the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test, the Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn's multiple comparison test. The vegetable oils tested stimulated sebaceous lipogenesis in a concentration-dependent manner. The pattern of lipogenesis induced by Moringa seed oil and olive oil was comparable to lipogenesis stimulated by oleic acid with also similar fatty acid secretion and cell proliferation patterns. Sunflower oil induced the strongest lipogenesis among the tested oils and fatty acids. There were also differences in cytokine secretion, induced by treatment with different oils. Moringa seed oil and olive oil, but not sunflower oil, reduced the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, in comparison to untreated cells, and exhibited a low n-6/n-3 index. The anti-inflammatory oleic acid detected in Moringa seed oil probably contributed to its low levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and induction of cell death. In conclusion, Moringa seed oil seems to concentrate several desired oil properties on sebocytes, such as high content level of the anti-inflammatory fatty acid oleic acid, induction of similar cell proliferation and lipogenesis patterns compared with oleic acid, lipogenesis with a low n-6/n-3 index and inhibition of secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These properties characterize Moringa seed oil as an interesting nutrient and a promising ingredient in skin care products.

Green Synthesis of Controlled Shape Silver Nanostructures and Their Peroxidase, Catalytic Degradation, and Antibacterial Activity

Nanoparticles with unique shapes have garnered significant interest due to their enhanced surface area-to-volume ratio, leading to improved potential compared to their spherical counterparts. The present study focuses on a biological approach to producing different silver nanostructures employing Moringa oleifera leaf extract. Phytoextract provides metabolites, serving as reducing and stabilizing agents in the reaction. Two different silver nanostructures, dendritic (AgNDs) and spherical (AgNPs), were successfully formed by adjusting the phytoextract concentration with and without copper ions in the reaction system, resulting in particle sizes of ~300 ± 30 nm (AgNDs) and ~100 ± 30 nm (AgNPs). These nanostructures were characterized by several techniques to ascertain their physicochemical properties; the surface was distinguished by functional groups related to polyphenols due to plant extract that led to critical controlling of the shape of nanoparticles. Nanostructures performance was assessed in terms of peroxidase-like activity, catalytic behavior for dye degradation, and antibacterial activity. Spectroscopic analysis revealed that AgNDs demonstrated significantly higher peroxidase activity compared to AgNPs when evaluated using chromogenic reagent 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine. Furthermore, AgNDs exhibited enhanced catalytic degradation activities, achieving degradation percentages of 92.2% and 91.0% for methyl orange and methylene blue dyes, respectively, compared to 66.6% and 58.0% for AgNPs. Additionally, AgNDs exhibited superior antibacterial properties against Gram-negative E. coli compared to Gram-positive S. aureus, as evidenced by the calculated zone of inhibition. These findings highlight the potential of the green synthesis method in generating novel nanoparticle morphologies, such as dendritic shape, compared with the traditionally synthesized spherical shape of silver nanostructures. The synthesis of such unique nanostructures holds promise for various applications and further investigations in diverse sectors, including chemical and biomedical fields.

A Novel Microwave Hot Pressing Machine for Production of Fixed Oils from Different Biopolymeric Structured Tissues

A microwave hot pressing machine (MHPM) was used to heat the colander to produce fixed oils from each of castor, sunflower, rapeseed, and moringa seed and compared them to those obtained using an ordinary electric hot pressing machine (EHPM). The physical properties, namely the moisture content of seed (MCs), the seed content of fixed oil (Scfo), the yield of the main fixed oil (Ymfo), the yield of recovered fixed oil (Yrfo), extraction loss (EL), six Efficiency of fixed oil extraction (Efoe), specific gravity (SGfo), refractive index (RI) as well as chemical properties, namely iodine number (IN), saponification value (SV), acid value (AV), and the yield of fatty acid (Yfa) of the four oils extracted by the MHPM and EHPM were determined. Chemical constituents of the resultant oil were identified using GC/MS after saponification and methylation processes. The Ymfo and SV obtained using the MHPM were higher than those for the EHPM for all four fixed oils studied. On the other hand, each of the SGfo, RI, IN, AV, and pH of the fixed oils did not alter statistically due to changing the heating tool from electric band heaters into a microwave beam. The qualities of the four fixed oils extracted by the MHPM were very encouraging as a pivot of the industrial fixed oil projects compared to the EHPM. The prominent fatty acid of the castor fixed oil was found to be ricinoleic acid, making up 76.41% and 71.99% contents of oils extracted using the MHPM and EHPM, respectively. In addition, the oleic acid was the prominent fatty acid in each of the fixed oils of sunflower, rapeseed, and moringa species, and its yield by using the MHPM was higher than that for the EHPM. The role of microwave irradiation in facilitating fixed oil extrusion from the biopolymeric structured organelles (lipid bodies) was protruded. Since it was confirmed by the present study that using microwave irradiation is simple, facile, more eco-friendly, cost-effective, retains parent quality of oils, and allows for the warming of bigger machines and spaces, we think it will make an industrial revolution in oil extraction field.

Effect of canola oil supplementation level on total tract digestion, ruminal fermentation, and methane emissions of cows grazing Urochloa sp. supplemented with a fixed amount of concentrate

Four rumen-cannulated cows (Bos taurus × Bos indicus, 657 ± 92 kg body weight, BW) in a rotational grazing (Urochloa sp.) system were assigned to different canola oil (CO) inclusion levels, 0.0, 0.40, 0.80, and 1.2 g/kg according to shrunk body weight (SBW, BW adjusted for gastrointestinal filling) in a 4 × 4 Latin Square design to evaluate CO on the CH₄ emissions and dietary energy intake. CH₄ emissions were estimated using an infrared analyzer methodology (Sniffer method). Grass intake and fecal production were estimated using Cr₂O₃ as an external marker. CO supplementation increased (linear effect, P ≤ 0.05) total dry matter and gross energy intake with a linear increase (P = 0.09) in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake. While digestible energy (Mcal/kg) linearly increased with increasing CO supplementation level (linear effect, P < 0.05), total tract digestion of organic matter, NDF, and CP was comparable (P > 0.05) between levels. Maximal CO supplementation (1.2 g/kg SBW) significantly decreased total ruminal protozoa population, acetate:propionate ratio, and enteric methane production (g/kg DMI) by 9, 5.3, and 17.5%, respectively. This study showed that, for cows grazing tropical forages, CO can be supplemented up to 1.2 g/kg SBW (5.8% of the total diet) without negatively affecting intake and nutrient digestion while reducing ruminal fermentation efficiency and enteric methane emission (≤ 17.5%).

Drug-induced liver injury: Relation between the R ratio and histopathology

INTRODUCTION AND AIM

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a diagnosis based on the ruling out of potential liver diseases and consolidated by establishing causality through the temporal relation between a potentially hepatotoxic substance and altered liver biochemistry. Incidence fluctuates greatly worldwide, with very few reports of causal agents of DILI in Colombia. A retrospective study on patients treated at the Centro de Estudios en Salud (CES), within the time frame of January 2015 and June 2020, was conducted to document the causal substances of DILI in patients with liver biopsy and to correlate the types of histologic patterns with the biochemical pattern of liver injury (R ratio).

RESULTS

Of the 254 adult patients with liver biopsy and no tumor etiology, 20 patients were identified as cases of DILI (7.87%). The two most frequently found causal substances were efavirenz, in three HIV-positive patients, and Moringa oleifera (moringa), in two patients. There was a statistically significant association between cholestatic patterns (p = 0.037) and mixed patterns (p = 0.031), in the comparison of the histopathologic categories and the R ratio.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on DILI secondary to Moringa oleifera (moringa). The R ratio could be a useful tool, in relation to the histologic pattern of injury, in cases of mixed and cholestatic patterns.

Selected Seeds as Sources of Bioactive Compounds with Diverse Biological Activities

Seeds contain a variety of phytochemicals that exhibit a wide range of biological activities. Plant-derived compounds are often investigated for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic, anti-hypercholesterolemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-platelet, anti-apoptotic, anti-nociceptive, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, hepatoprotective, or neuroprotective properties. In this review, we have described the chemical content and biological activity of seeds from eight selected plant species-blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.), black raspberry (Rubus coreanus Miq.), grape (Vitis vinifera L.), Moringa oleifera Lam., sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), Gac (Momordica cochinchinensis Sprenger), hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), and sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L). This review is based on studies identified in electronic databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and SCOPUS. Numerous preclinical, and some clinical studies have found that extracts, fractions, oil, flour, proteins, polysaccharides, or purified chemical compounds isolated from the seeds of these plants display promising, health-promoting effects, and could be utilized in drug development, or to make nutraceuticals and functional foods. Despite that, many of these properties have been studied only in vitro, and it's unsure if their effects would be relevant in vivo as well, so there is a need for more animal studies and clinical trials that would help determine if they could be applied in disease prevention or treatment.

Impact of varying amounts of Moringa oleifera seed powder in the diet on a few aspects of common carp growth L. Cyprinus carpio

The current study was conducted in experimental cages in a mud pond, First Agricultural Research and Experiment Station, Agriculture College, Al-Muthanna University, to determine the effect of different levels of Moringa oleifera seed powder on the diets of common carp. A total of 75 common carp fish with an average weight of 65.08±0.42 g were used; it was randomly distributed to 5 treatments with three replicates (5 fish for each replicate). The fish that were fed on experimental diets was divided into five equal therapies in terms of protein percentages, different in the proportions of adding Moringa seed powder; the rate of seeds added to the treatments was 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2%, respectively, the fish were fed on the experimental diets at 5% of the live weight, divided into four meals a day. The results showed a significant superiority of T2 and T3 treatments compared with other therapies on growth parameters (final weight, weight gain, daily growth rate, specific and relative), and give the best feed conversion ratio, the highest food conversion and protein efficiency ratio. Indicates that adding Moringa seed powder to diets at rates of 0.5 and 1% led to fish growth promotion and increased utilization of feed intake. Keywords: Moringa oleifera, growth parameters, common carp Cyprinus carpio L.

Moringa oleifera seed ethanol extract and its active component kaempferol potentiate pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviours in mice via a GABAergic mechanism

CONTEXT

Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) (MO) is an important food plant that has high nutritional and medical value. However, there is limited information on whether its seeds can improve sleep.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the effects of MO seed ethanol extracts (EEMOS) on sleep activity improvement and examined the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male ICR mice were placed into six groups (n = 12) and treated as follows: Control (sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, 20 mL/kg), estazolam tablets (2 mg/kg), EEMOS (1, 2 g/kg) and kaempferol (1, 2 mg/kg). These samples were successively given intragastric for 14 d. Locomotor activity assay, pentobarbital-induced sleeping and pentetrazol-induced seizures tests were utilized to examine the sedative-hypnotic effects (SHE) of EEMOS.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the results revealed that EEMOS (2 g/kg) and KA (2 mg/kg) possessed good SHE and could significantly elevate the levels of γ-aminobutyric acid and reduce the levels of glutamic acid in the mouse hypothalamus (p < 0.05). Moreover, SHE was blocked by picrotoxin, flumazenil and bicuculline (p < 0.05). EEMOS (2 g/kg) and KA (2 mg/kg) significantly upregulated the protein expression levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 (GAD₆₅) and α₁-subunit of GABA_A receptors in the hypothalamus of mice (p < 0.05), not affecting glutamic acid decarboxylase-67 (GAD₆₇) and γ₂-subunit expression levels (p > 0.05). Additionally, they cause a significant increase in Cl^- influx in human cerebellar granule cells at a concentration of 8 µg/mL (p  <  0.05).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrated that EEMOS could improve sleep by regulating GABA_A-ergic systems, and encourage further clinical trials to treat insomnia.

The Antimethanogenic Potentials of Plant Extracts: Their Yields and Phytochemical Compositions as Affected by Extractive Solvents

Plant phytochemicals are an important area of study in ruminant nutrition, primarily due to their antimethanogenic potentials. Plant extract yields, their bioactive compounds and antimethanogenic properties are largely dependent on the nature of the extractive solvents. This study evaluated the yields and phytochemical constituents of four plant extracts, as affected by the aqueous-methanolic (H2O-CH3OH) extraction and their antimethanogenic properties on the in vitro methane production. The plant extracts included Aloe vera, Jatropha curcas, Moringa oleifera, and Piper betle leaves with three levels of extractions (70, 85, and 100% CH3OH). The crude plant extract yields increased with the increasing amount of water. M. oleifera crude extracts yields (g/10 g) increased from 3.24 to 3.92, A. vera, (2.35 to 3.11) J. curcas (1.77 to 2.26), and P. betle (2.42 to 3.53). However, the identified and quantified metabolites showed differing degrees of solubility unique to their plant leaves in which they exist, while some of the metabolites were unaffected by the extraction solvents. The methane mitigating potentials of these extracts were evaluated as additives on Eragrostis curvula hay at a recommended rate of 50 mg kg−1 DM. The plant extracts exhibited antimethanogenic properties to various degrees, reducing (p < 0.05) in vitro methane production in the tested hay, A. vera, J. curcas, M. oleifera and P. betle reduced methane emission by 6.37−7.55%, 8.02−11.56%, 12.26−12.97, and 5.66−7.78 respectively compared to the control treatment. However, the antimethanogenic efficacy, gas production and organic matter digestibility of the plant extracts were unaffected by the extraction solvents. Metabolites, such as aloin A, aloin B and kaempferol (in A. vera), apigenin, catechin, epicatechin, kaempferol, tryptophan, procyanidins, vitexin-7-olate and isovitexin-7-olate (in J. curcas), alkaloid, kaempferol, quercetin, rutin and neochlorogenic acid (in M. oleifera) and apigenin-7,4′-diglucoside, 3-p-coumaroylquinic acid, rutin, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, dihydrocaffeic acid, and dihydrocoumaric acid (in P. betle) exhibited a methane reducing potential and hence, additional studies may be conducted to test the methane reducing properties of the individual metabolites as well as their combined forms. Plant extracts could be more promising, and hence, further study is necessary to explore other extraction methods, as well as the encapsulation of extracts for the improved delivery of core materials to the target sites and to enhance methane reducing properties. Furthermore, the use of 70% aqueous extraction on M. oleifera leaf is recommended for practical use due to the reduced cost of extractive solvents, the lower cost and availability of Moringa plants in South Africa, especially in Gauteng Province. Furthermore, 70% aqueous-methanolic extractions of A. vera, J. curcas, and P. betle are recommended for practical use in regions where they exist in abundance and are cost effective.

The Potential of Moringa oleifera to Ameliorate HAART-Induced Pathophysiological Complications

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) comprises a combination of two or three antiretroviral (ARV) drugs that are administered together in a single tablet. These drugs target different steps within the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) life cycle, providing either a synergistic or additive antiviral effect; this enhances the efficiency in which viral replication is suppressed. HIV cannot be completely eliminated, making HAART a lifetime treatment. With long-term HAART usage, an increasing number of patients experience a broadening array of complications, and this significantly affects their quality of life, despite cautious use. The mechanism through which ARV drugs induce toxicity is associated with metabolic complications such as mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation. To address this, it is necessary to improve ARV drug formulation without compromising its efficacy; alternatively, safe supplementary medicine may be a suitable solution. The medicinal plant Moringa oleifera (MO) is considered one of the most important sources of novel nutritionally and pharmacologically active compounds that have been shown to prevent and treat various diseases. MO leaves are rich in polyphenols, vitamins, minerals, and tannins; studies have confirmed the therapeutic properties of MO. MO leaves provide powerful antioxidants, scavenge free radicals, promote carbohydrate metabolism, and repair DNA. MO also induces anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-proliferative, and anti-mutagenic effects. Therefore, MO can be a source of affordable and safe supplement therapy for HAART-induced toxicity. This review highlights the potential of MO leaves to protect against HAART-induced toxicity in HIV patients.

Composition and Characterization of Cold Pressed Moringa oleifera Seed Oil

The present study aims to investigate the volatile compound and the triacylglycerol profiles of Tunisian cold pressed Moringa oleifera seed oil (MoSO) and to assess its thermal properties and its biological activities. GC-MS analysis identified thirty six phyto-compounds amounting to 98.99% of the total oil. These compounds were classified into eleven groups among which the fatty acid one exhibited the highest intensity (91.63%). Cis, 6-octadecenoic acid was the most abundant compound (70.68%). The triacylglycerol composition of MoSO was characterized by the predominance of the glycerol trioleate (OOO) (32.42±0.12%). Thermogravimetric analysis of MoSO showed that the oil possess an interesting thermal stability with a highly Onset temperatures (T_onset) of 390.72°C and 357.47°C, respectively in nitrogen and air atmospheres. By using the ABTS assay, MoSO exhibited an interesting antioxidant capacity of 365 μM TEAC. The oil was also endowed with a relatively strong anti-inflammatory activity since its treatment at the different concentrations tested (75, 150 and 300 μg/mL). However, no antimicrobial activity was observed. On the basis of the obtained results, MoSO could be used in diverse industrial applications such as pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food fields thanks to its thermal stability and interesting biological activities.

Mechanistic Wound Healing and Antioxidant Potential of Moringa oleifera Seeds Extract Supported by Metabolic Profiling, In Silico Network Design, Molecular Docking, and In Vivo Studies

Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) is an adaptable plant with promising phytoconstituents, interesting medicinal uses, and nutritional importance. Chemical profiling of M. oleifera seeds assisted by LC-HRMS (HPLC system coupled to a high resolution mass detector) led to the dereplication of 19 metabolites. Additionally, the wound healing potential of M. oleifera seed extract was investigated in male New Zealand Dutch strain albino rabbits and supported by histopathological examinations. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms were investigated via different in vitro investigations and through analyzing the relative gene and protein expression patterns. When compared to the untreated and MEBO®-treated groups, topical administration of M. oleifera extract on excision wounds resulted in a substantial increase in wound healing rate (p < 0.001), elevating TGF-β1, VEGF, Type I collagen relative expression, and reducing inflammatory markers such as IL-1β and TNF-α. In vitro antioxidant assays showed that the extract displayed strong scavenging effects to peroxides and superoxide free radicals. In silico studies using a molecular docking approach against TNF-α, TGFBR1, and IL-1β showed that some metabolites in M. oleifera seed extract can bind to the active sites of three wound-healing related proteins. Protein−protein interaction (PPI) and compound−protein interaction (CPI) networks were constructed as well. Quercetin, caffeic acid, and kaempferol showed the highest connectivity with the putative proteins. In silico drug likeness studies revealed that almost all compounds comply with both Lipinski’s and Veber’s rule. According to the previous findings, an in vitro study was carried out on the pure compounds, including quercetin, kaempferol, and caffeic acid (identified from M. oleifera) to validate the proposed approach and to verify their potential effectiveness. Their inhibitory potential was evaluated against the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and against the endopeptidase MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) subtype I and II, with highest activity being observed for kaempferol. Hence, M. oleifera seeds could be a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential antioxidant and wound healing capabilities.

Anaphylaxis to Moringa oleifera in North Africa: A case report and review of the literature

We describe here the third reported case of anaphylaxis after ingestion of some leavers of Moringa oleifera, causing a widespread angioedema, a respiratory distress, and an elevation of serum tryptase. M. oleifera leaves were confirmed as the causative allergen by prick testing with fresh leavers.

Bacterial Removal Efficiency of Moringa stenopetala and Cadaba farinosa From Surface Water: Laboratory-Based Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Consumption of polluted surface waters are leading to waterborne diseases, especially in developing countries, which results in the deaths of millions of people annually around the world. Ethiopia, like the rest of developing countries, suffers a lot of water-associated health problems. Chemical disinfectants are in use to disinfect water with some drawbacks like expensiveness, unavailability, and detrimental effect on human health. Researchers are on the search for non-expensive and locally available methods, and natural plants are the ones in the study. Thus, this study is designed to test Escherichia coli (E. coli) removal efficiency of Moringa stenopetala (M. stenopetala) and Cadaba farinosa (C. farinosa) from surface water.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July 2021. A 14 L water sample was collected from Lake Hawassa. A 30, 60, and 100 mg weights of the leaf and seed powder dosages of M. stenopetala and C. farinosa at contaminant settling times of 30, 60, and 90 minutes were used. Each 1-L water sample was treated with each of the dosages. E. coli count, temperature, pH and turbidity were measured using standard methods for water and wastewater analysis. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version.23 was used for analysis. Treatment differences between plant parts and association between variables were also tested.

RESULT

The result indicated that raw water samples having 18 initial E. coli colonies per 100 mL of water showed zero E. coli colonies per 100 mL of water after treatment with 30 mg dosage of M. stenopetala seed, 30 mg dosage of C. farinosa seed, and 60 mg dosage of M. stenopetala leaf after 90 minutes of settling time, but C. farinosa leaf was unable to reduce E. coli colonies to 0 per 100 mL of water. M. stenopetala leaf showed the highest turbidity reduction of 83.3% at 60 mg dosage. A pH of 7.30 and 8.50 and a temperature of 20°C to 23.5°C were recorded. There was a significant difference in E. coli removal between C. farinosa seed and leaf. Turbidity was identified as a factor that positively affects E. coli removal during M. stenopetala seed and leaf. Dosage and settling time were also identified as predictors of E. coli removal.

CONCLUSION

M. stenopetala and C. farinosa have antimicrobial properties against E. coli, but only M. stenopetala showed E. coli, turbidity, and pH values within the recommended World Health Organization standards. So, we suggest M. stenopetala as a promising natural disinfectant that needs attention from organizations working on the water.

Impact of Moringa oleifera Seed-Derived Coagulants Processing Steps on Physicochemical, Residual Organic, and Cytotoxicity Properties of Treated Water

This study explored the application of whole and defatted Moringa oleifera seed-derived coagulants in powder (P-MOS and DP-MOS), aqueous extraction (AEP-MOS and AEDP-MOS), and saline extraction (SEP-MOS and SEDP-MOS) in the treatment of a synthetic turbid water by coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation in a jar test apparatus. The performance of M. oleifera seed-derived coagulants was quantified and compared with alum in terms of the ability to neutralize and restabilize the suspension charge, turbidity removal, effect on pH and electrical conductivity, residual organic matter, as well as cytotoxicity in the treated water. All evaluated forms of M. oleifera seed-derived coagulants were able to neutralize and restabilize (in overdose) the particles charges in the suspension. Saline extractions obtained the best turbidity removal results (90%) between the M. oleifera seed-derived coagulants, while alum removed 98% of turbidity. Differently from alum, increased dosage of M. oleifera seed-derived coagulants did not change pH value. Saline extractions and, to a lesser extent, alum increased the electrical conductivity with increasing coagulant dosage. M. oleifera seed-derived coagulants increased residual organic matter (DOC), unlike alum, which did not change this property with increasing dosage. Saline extractions at high dosages enhanced the cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. On the other hand, defatted seeds reduced water cytotoxicity when compared to whole seeds. Despite not being able to reduce the residual organic matter, the previous oil extraction proved to be an important step in the processing of M. oleifera seed-derived coagulants, not changing the turbidity removal capacity and reducing the cytotoxicity of the treated water in addition to generating a significant by-product (Ben oil). Although saline extractions have shown the best turbidity removal results, they should be used with caution due to increased electrical conductivity and cytotoxicity of the treated water at high dosages.

Development and characterization of mupirocin encapsulated in animal bone-derived hydroxyapatite for management of chronic wounds

Background

Hydroxyapatite is an important biomedical material used in drug delivery owing to its excellent bioactivity and biocompatibility. In this study, hydroxyapatite isolated from bovine and caprine bones was capped and used as a drug carrier to encapsulate mupirocin as an active pharmaceutical product in hydrogel formulations which were utilized in wound healing application using animal model (Wistar Rats).

Results

Characterization of the mupirocin-encapsulated hydroxyapatite using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometer revealed the active presence of mupirocin after encapsulation. The in-vitro drug release study revealed that the capped hydroxyapatite obtained from caprine bone loaded with mupirocin gave drug release rate of 84.67% of the drug within 75 min while conventional mupirocin ointment had the lowest at 27.04% within the same time. The capped hydroxyapatite obtained from bovine bone loaded with mupirocin had the highest encapsulation efficiency of 73.67%. However, the animals treated with formulation prepared from capped hydroxyapatite obtained from caprine bone loaded with mupirocin had the highest wound closure area of 377.8 mm2, while conventional mupirocin ointment had 231.5 mm2 in 16 days of treatment. All the formulations with mupirocin except the ointment showed excellent resistance against Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus of about 40 mm of inhibition zone.

Conclusions

The mupirocin encapsulated in hydroxyapatite extracted from bovine and caprine bones has been demonstrated to be more superior to the conventional ointment in the management of chronic wound conditions.

Can omic tools help generate alternative newer sources of edible seed oil?

There are three pathways for triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis: De novo TAG biosynthesis, phosphatidylcholine-derived biosynthesis, and cytosolic TAG biosynthesis. Variability in fatty acid composition is mainly associated with phosphatidylcholine-derived TAG pathway. Mobilization of TAG-formed through cytosolic pathway into lipid droplets is yet unknown. There are multiple regulatory checkpoints starting from acetyl-CoA carboxylase to the lipid droplet biogenesis in TAG biosynthesis. Although a primary metabolism, only a few species synthesize oil in seeds for storage, and less than 10 species are commercially exploited. To meet out the growing demand for oil, diversifying into newer sources is the only choice left. The present review highlights the potential strategies targeting species like Azadirachta, Callophyllum, Madhuca, Moringa, Pongamia, Ricinus, and Simarouba, which are not being used for eating but are otherwise high yielding (ranging from 1.5 to 20 tons per hectare) with seeds having a high oil content (40-60%). Additionally, understanding the toxin biosynthesis in Ricinus and Simarouba would be useful in developing toxin-free oil plants. Realization of the importance of cell cultures as "oil factories" is not too far into the future and would soon be a commercially viable option for producing oils in vitro, round the clock.

Histopathology, pharmacokinetics and estimation of interleukin-6 levels of Moringa oleifera leaves extract-functionalized selenium nanoparticles against rats induced hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most dangerous cancers in all the world. This study focused on prevention and therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using Moringa oleifera extract combined with vitamin C and selenium in a nanoplatform (MO/asc.-Se-NPs).

Results

Full characterization of MO/asc.-Se-NPs was performed by using different analytical techniques (TEM, DLS, zeta-sizer), and its antioxidant capacity was measured by DPPH assay. Biodistribution study was performed with the aid of radiolabeling technique using technetium-99m in normal albino mice. HCC was induced in Wister albino rats to evaluate the efficiency of MO/asc.-Se-NPs in the treatment of HCC. The biomarker analysis (ALT, AST and ALB) shows improvement in its values in prevention and treated groups by using MO/asc.-Se NP. The levels of inflammatory marker interleukin 6 (IL6 tissue homogenate) was improved by decreasing its values in these two groups also. Histology section of tissue liver showed alleviation in treated and prevention groups.

Conclusions

In conclusion, MO/asc.-Se-NPs can be used as a potential agent for prevention and treatment of HCC after further preclinical studies.

The impact of Moringa oleifera leaf supplementation on human and animal nutrition, growth, and milk production: A systematic review

Childhood undernutrition contributes to up to 45% of deaths in children under age 5. Moringa oleifera (moringa) leaves are nutrient dense and promote breastmilk production. We performed a systematic review assessing the impact of moringa leaf supplementation in humans and animals on the outcomes of iron, vitamin A status, the measures of growth, and/or breastmilk production. Our inclusion/exclusion criteria were as follows; inclusion: quantitative primary data assessing the effect of moringa leaf supplementation on humans or animals including any of the outcomes defined earlier with no exclusion for geography, age, or language. Exclusion: full text not available. Our search yielded 148 unique studies; among them, 33 were included (seven human studies and 26 animal studies). Quality assessment by Effective Public Health Practice Project guidelines was strong for one study and moderate for all other studies. In humans, moringa at higher (14-30 g/day) not lower (<10 g/day) doses improved hemoglobin (Hgb) in children with iron deficiency anemia, improved Hgb and vitamin A status in postmenopausal women, and increased BMI in HIV+ underweight adults. Moringa (0.5 g/day) also increased breastmilk volumes. In animals, moringa increased milk production in two of three studies, inconsistently affected growth, and had no effect on iron status. Evidence on moringa supplementation's utility is limited but promising. Larger, more rigorous trials are needed to characterize its impact.

Fatty acid profile, sterols, and squalene content comparison between two conventional (olive oil and linseed oil) and three non‐conventional vegetable oils (echium oil, hempseed oil, and moringa oil)

Abstract

New sources of bioactive compounds are constantly explored for reformulating healthier foods. This work aimed to explore and characterize the fatty acid profile and sterol content of three non‐conventional oils used in functional food products (hempseed oil, moringa oil, and echium oil) and to compare them with two conventional ones (extra virgin olive oil [EVOO] and linseed oil). Oxidative stability was assessed by determining their acidity value and peroxide content. All oils showed adequate values for acidity and oxidation status. Echium and hempseed oils showed a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (>70%), especially omega‐3 fatty acids, while moringa oil was rich in oleic acid. Echium oil, hempseed oil, and moringa oil presented higher sterol content than EVOO, but lower than that of linseed oil. Sitosterol was the most abundant sterol in all samples (97.88–275.36 mg/100 g oil), except in echium oil, where campesterol (170.62 mg/100 g oil) was the major sterol. Squalene was only found in significant amounts in EVOO. In conclusion, non‐conventional oils seem to be interesting sources of bioactive compounds and have great potential for the food industry.

Practical Application

Non‐conventional vegetable oils can be used as alternative sources of lipids in a variety of food products. Additionally, these oils have great potential to be included in the formulation of functional ingredients for the delivery of omega‐3 fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber, among others.

Effects of Moringa oleifera in Two Independents Formulation and as Neuroprotective Agent Against Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment in Mice

Background

The cognitive deficit has frequently been found in the elderly population. Several studies have shown that every single part of Moringa oleifera, including leaves, roots, and seeds, has abundant micronutrients, such as flavonoids, which improve the neurobehavioral capacity. However, herb parts that display optimal neuropharmacological properties remain unknown.

Objective

We investigate whether M. oleifera seed oil (MOO) or aqueous M. oleifera leaves extracts (MOEs) may ameliorate memory impairment in mice induced with scopolamine (Sco). Additionally, the phytochemical analyses of those two independent formulations were analyzed.

Methods

In this study, 2 ml/kg body weight (BW) of MOO and 500 mg/kg BW of MOE were orally administered to the mice for 28 days, followed by intraperitoneal injection of Sco (1 mg/kg) at the day 22–28 to induce cognitive impairment in those mice.

Results

The Sco group showed memory retention impairment represented by the Y-maze and novel object recognition tests, significant enhancement of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity in hippocampus tissue (p < 0.0001), and increased the level of total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) in serum. Interestingly, the Sco-induced memory defect was improved and completely blunted the AChE exacerbation in Sco+MOO-treated mice (p < 0.0001), although the TAOC level was comparable among the groups. Mechanistically, both tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), as a brain-derived neurotrophic factor-receptor, and nuclear factor-kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) protein expressions were enhanced with the hippocampus isolated from the Sco group. Nonetheless, pretreatment with MOO only, but not with MOE, ameliorated the enhanced protein expression levels of TrkB and NF-κB (p < 0.05 and p = 0.09, respectively).

Conclusion

Our data reveal that MOO is preferable to MOE as a neuroprotective as evidenced by improving memory impairment. This effect, at least in part, through inhibiting the AChE and NF-κB activities and modulating the TrkB expression level.

Milk-clotting properties on bovine caseins of a novel cysteine peptidase from germinated Moringa oleifera seeds

A cysteine peptidase was previously identified from germinated Moringa oleifera seeds, but its milk-clotting properties on bovine caseins was still unclear. In this study, this novel cysteine peptidase (MoCP) showed preferential activity on κ-casein (κ-CN), with greater hydrolytic activity compared with calf rennet, whereas weak hydrolysis of α-casein and β-casein made MoCP suitable for application in cheesemaking and may yield various functional peptides. All 3 evaluated caseins were hydrolyzed to form relatively stable peptide bands within 3 h of proteolysis with MoCP. Cleavage sites were determined by gel electrophoresis, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry, and peptide sequencing, which revealed that cleavage of κ-CN by MoCP occurred at residue Ile129-Pro130 and generated a 14,895.37-Da peptide. The flocculation reaction between MoCP and κ-CN determined by 3-dimensional microscopy with super-depth of field revealed that the initial 30 min of reaction were key for milk coagulation, which may affect curd yield. Overall, the findings presented herein suggest that the cysteine peptidase from germinated M. oleifera seeds can be considered a promising plant-derived rennet alternative for use in cheese manufacture.

Moringa oleifera polysaccharide regulates colonic microbiota and immune repertoire in C57BL/6 mice

This study investigated the effects of Moringa oleifera polysaccharide (MOP) on serum immune indices, immune organ indices, colonic microflora and immune repertoire of mice. Forty male SPF C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups and subjected to gavage of 0, 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg MOP for 28 days. Mice were sacrificed on the last day of the experiment and their thymus, spleen, blood and colon contents were collected for further detection. Our findings suggested that MOP could significantly increase the thymus index (P < 0.01) and spleen index (P < 0.05), and significantly decrease the levels of interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α in mice (P < 0.05). And MOP could regulate the proportion of colonic microflora of mice, significantly increase the abundance of Muribaculaceae and significantly decrease the abundance values of Proteobacteria, Helicobacter, Stenotrophomonas, etc (P < 0.05). In addition, MOP could regulate the usage frequencies of TRBV15 (P = 0.06) and TRBV9 (P = 0.10) on the TCRα chain and 9 V-J pairs were found to have remarkable usage frequency changes. These results implied that MOP exerted positive effects on the immune performance and intestinal health of mice.

The Potency of Moringa oleifera Lam. as Protective Agent in Cardiac Damage and Vascular Dysfunction

Cardiac damage and vascular dysfunction due to underlying diseases, such as hypertension and cardiac thrombosis, or side effects from certain drugs may lead to critical illness conditions and even death. The phytochemical compounds in natural products are being prospected to protect the heart and vascular system from further damage. Moringa genus is a subtropical tree native to Asia and Africa, which includes 13 species; Moringa oleifera Lam. (MO) is the most cultivated for its beneficial uses. MO is also known as the “miracle tree” because it has been used traditionally as a food source and medicine to treat various diseases such as anemia, diabetes, and infectious or cardiovascular diseases. The phytochemical compounds identified in MO with functional activities associated with cardiovascular diseases are N,α-L-rhamnopyranosyl vincosamide, isoquercetin, quercetin, quercetrin, and isothiocyanate. This study aims to investigate the potency of the phytochemical compounds in MO as a protective agent to cardiac damage and vascular dysfunction in the cardiovascular disease model. This is a scoping review by studying publications from the reputed database that assessed the functional activities of MO, which contribute to the improvement of cardiac and vascular dysfunctions. Studies show that the phytochemical compounds, for example, N,α-L-rhamnopyranosyl vincosamide and quercetin, have the molecular function of antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-apoptosis. These lead to improving cardiac contractility and protecting cardiac structural integrity from damage. These compounds also act as natural vasorelaxants and endothelium protective agents. Most of the studies were conducted on in vivo studies; therefore, further studies should be applied in a clinical setting.

Isothiocyanate From Moringa oleifera Seeds Inhibits the Growth and Migration of Renal Cancer Cells by Regulating the PTP1B-dependent Src/Ras/Raf/ERK Signaling Pathway

Moringa oleifera Lam. is a tropical and subtropical plant that has been used for centuries as both food and traditional medicine. 4-[(α-L-Rhamnosyloxy) benzyl] isothiocyanate (MIC-1) is an active substance in M. oleifera, with anti-cancer activity. However, whether MIC-1 exerts anti-renal cancer effects is unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of MIC-1 on the growth and migration of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells and to identify the putative underlying mechanism. We found that, among 30 types of cancer cells, MIC-1 exerted the strongest growth inhibitory effects against 786-O RCC cells. In addition, MIC-1 (10 μM) significantly inhibited the growth of five RCC cell lines, including 786-O, OSRC-2, 769-P, SK-NEP-1, and ACHN cells, but was not toxic to normal renal (HK2) cells. Also, MIC-1 suppressed 786-O and 769-P cell migration and invasion abilities, and reduced the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. Furthermore, MIC-1 induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and decreased cell cycle-related protein expression in 786-O cells and 769-P cells. Molecular docking and small-molecule interaction analyses with PTP1B both showed that MIC-1 inhibited PTP1B activity by binding to its active site through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Additionally, MIC-1 could suppress the growth and migration of 786-O cells by inhibiting PTP1B-mediated activation of the Src/Ras/Raf/ERK signaling pathway. In vivo experiments further showed that MIC-1 markedly inhibited the growth of xenograft tumors in mice, and greatly increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in tumor tissues. In addition, MIC-1 had no effect on the PTP1B-dependent Src/Ras/Raf/ERK signaling pathway in HCT-116 cells, Hep-G2 cells, and A431 cells. Overall, our data showed that MIC-1 could be a promising, non-toxic, natural dietary supplement for the prevention and treatment of renal cancer.