INTRODUCTION:
Nature has provided a inclusive storehouse
of remedy to cure ailment of mankind. India has a prosperous culture
of medicinal herbs and spices, which includes about more than 2000 species and
has a vast geographical area with high potential abilities for Ayurvedic,
Unani, Siddha traditional medicines.
There
is a extensive credence that green medicines are healthier and more safer than
synthetic or allopathic drugs. Medicinal plants have been reported to cure a
number of diseases. Human beings have used plants for the treatment of
miscellaneous ailments for thousands of years. Today herbal medicines are in
great demand in both developed as well as developing countries as a source of
primary health care owing to their attributes having wide biological and
medicinal activities, high safety margins and lesser costs.
Traditional use of medicines is renowned as a way to learn about
potential future medicines. Plant derived medicines that have been developed as
a result of traditional knowledge being handed down from one generation to the
next. Various industries are now searching into sources of alternative, more
natural and environmental friendly antimicrobials, antibiotics, diabetics,
antioxidants and crop protection agents. Medicinal plants have provided a good
source of a wide variety of compounds, such as phenolic compounds, nitrogen
compounds, vitamins, terpenoids and some other secondary. metabolites, which
are rich in valuable bioactivities, e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,
antitumor, anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic, antibacterial and antiviral
activities. Medicinal plants have become the main object of chemists,
biochemist, and pharmaceutics.(1)
A
number of medicinal plants are used as rejuvenators as well as for treating
various disease conditions. They may be tonics, anti-malarial, antipyretics,
aphrodisiacs, expectorants, hepato-protectives, antirheumatics, diuretics etc.
As
we know that India, with its mega biodiversity and knowledge-rich primordial
traditional systems of medicine viz. Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and local health
traditions, provides a strong base for the utilization of a large number of
plants in general healthcare and alleviation of common ailments of the people.
In the present era, allopathic medication is showing severe side effects, it is
important to look always a new herbal remedy for treating diseases.(2,3)
Based
on the reported data, we are trying to give a review on pharmacological
activities for the public interest to implement in daily life .So in this
review, tells about various pharmacological activities of Moringa oleifera.
Moringa oleifera commonly known as “drumstick” It is the most widely cultivated
species of a monogenetic family, the Moringaceae that is native to the
sub-Himalayan tracts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. This
rapidly-growing tree and it was utilized by the ancient Romans, Greeks and
Egyptians; and now a days it is widely cultivated and has become naturalized in
many tropical areas.(4)
Moringa
is one such
genus whose various species have not been explored fully despite the enormous
reports concerning the various parts of a few species’ potentials such as:
cardiac and circulatory stimulants; antitumor; antipyretic; antiepileptic;
antiinflammatory; antiulcer; antispasmodic; diuretic antihypertensive;
cholesterol lowering; antioxidant; antidiabetic; hepato- protective;
antibacterial and antifungal activities. These are also being used for
treatment of different ailments in the indigenous system of medicine.
The Moringa
species are currently of wide attention because of their outstanding
economic potential. Amongst these species, M. oleifera is the most
ubiquitous for its nutritious and numerous medicinal uses that have been
appreciated for centuries in many parts of its native and introduced ranges.(5-,9)
Pharmacological Properties of Moringa oleifera:
Antibacterial
and Antifungal Efficacy:
A
considerable reduction in the growth of test bacteria was observed by
distillate of M. oleifera suggesting antibacterial effect. Among
bacteria tested, more inhibition was observed in case of E. coli followed
by S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis. Inhibition
of fungi was also observed as reduced colony diameter in plates poisoned with
distillate as compared to control plates. More inhibition of A. niger was
found followed by A. oryzae, A. terreus and A. nidulans. The
antimicrobial activity and antifungal activities of steam distillate of M.
oleifera might be possibly due to the essential oil fraction of the plant
material present in the distillate fraction.(10)
Anti-Oxidant
Effect:
The
antioxidant property of Moringa may be due to the presence of phenolic
compounds that was confirmed by phytochemical screening of the hydro-ethanolic
extract. In this respect, Moringa pods contain important bioactive
compounds including glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, thiocarbamates, and
flavonoids 16. These compounds quench ROS, chelate metal ions and regenerate membrane-bound
antioxidants,(11)
β-carotene,
the major component accounted from the drumsticks of the plant 16 and vitamin A
and C present in M. oleifera serve as an enlightenment for their mode of
action in the induction of antioxidant profiles in the present exploration The
biochemical basis of the chemopreventive potency of M. oleifera extract
may be attributed to the synergistic action of the constituents of the extract
and the induction of Phase-II enzymes (GSTs) and antioxidant enzymes, which
might be implicated in the anticarcinogenic activity.(12)
The Moringa
oleifera hydro- alcoholic leaf extracts (1000 mg/kg) and Moringa
oleifera aqueous pod (fruit) extract (750 mg/kg) contain high amount of
tannin, phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The poly phenolic constituents of
this plant could be contributory to their ethano-medical use. Thus, it can be
concluded that extracts of Moringa oleifera produce significant
antioxidant activity 20 and the presence of kaempferol in leaves of Moringa
oleifera showed the antioxidant activity.(13)
Analgesic
Activity and Local Anaesthetic Activity: The analgesic activity of alcoholic
extract of M. oleifera and its various fractions as Petroleum ether,
Ethyl acetate, Diethyl ether, n-Butanol were carried out by using Hotplate and
Tail immersion method. Amongst alcoholic extract and its various fractions of
seeds of M. oleifera alcoholic extract showed potent analgesic activity
which is comparable to that of aspirin at the dose of 25 mg/kg of body weight.
From this study, it can be concluded that the seeds of M. oleifera Lam.
possess marked analgesic activity and is equipotent to standard drug (Aspirin)
which establishes the use of M. oleifera seeds as regular analgesic 5.
The local anaesthetic activity of the methanol extract of M. oleifera was
tested in frog and guinea pig models and it was seen that in both animals, the
plant (root bark) has produced significant local anaesthetic activity.(14)
Anti-Inflammatory
Activity:
The
anti-inflammatory activity of isolated compounds was investigated with the
lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line. It was
found that 4-[(2'-O-acetyl-alpha-l-rhamnosyloxy)benzyl] isothiocyanate (1)
possessed potent NO-inhibitory activity with an IC(50) value of 1.67 microM,
followed by 2 (IC(50)=2.66 microM), 4 (IC(50)=2.71 microM), and 5 (IC(50)=14.4
microM), respectively. These isolated compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 are responsible
for the reported NO-inhibitory effect of M. oleifera fruits 29
(Cheenpracha et al., 2010). M. oleifera may also possess some
beneficial properties that act against chemically stimulated immune-mediated
inflammatory responses that are characteristic of asthma in the rat.(15)
Antinociceptive
Activity:
Sulaiman
et al. evaluated the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the
aqueous extract of the leaves of M. oleifera in laboratory animals,
using the writhing, hot-plate and formalin tests as the antinociceptive assays,
and carrageenan-induced paw oedema test as the anti-inflammatory assay. The
extract (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg) exhibited significant (P < 0.05)
antinociceptive activity, which occurred in a dose-dependent manner, in all
tests used. The extract also exhibited significant (P < 0.05)
anti-inflammatory activity in a dose dependent manner. In conclusion, M.
oleifera leaves possess peripherally non-opioid mediated and centrally
opioid mediated anti- nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. This study
also confirms the traditional uses of M. oleifera in the treatment of
ailments, particularly those related to pain and inflammation.(16)
Wound
Healing Activity:
The
aqueous extract of leaves of M. oleifera was investigated for its wound
healing activity. The extract was studied at dose level of 300 mg/kg body
weight using resutured incision, excision, and dead space wound models in rats.
The pro-healing actions seem to be due to increased collagen deposition as well
as better alignment and maturation. From the study results obtained, it may be
concluded that the aqueous extract of M. oleifera has significant wound
healing property.(17)
Hypolipidaemic
Activity and Antiathero- sclerotic Activity:
The
methanolic extract of M. oleifera (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg, p.o.) and
simvastatin (4 mg/kg, p.o.) along with hyperlipidemic diet were administered to
Albino Wistar rats for 30 days in order to observe hypolipidaemic effect. It
was found that the serum cholesterol, triacylglyceride, VLDL, LDL, and
atherogenic index were reduced by M. oleifera and simvastatin but HDL
level was increased as compared to the corresponding high fed cholesterol diet
group (control). M. oleifera was also found to increase the excretion of
fecal cholesterol. Thus, it can be concluded that M. oleifera possesses
a hypolipidemic effect.(18)
Chumark
et al., investigated the hypolipidaemic and antiatherosclerotic
activities of M. oleifera leaf extract. They found that in
hypercholesterol-fed rabbits, at 12 weeks of treatment, the water extract of
the plant significantly (P<0.05) lowered the cholesterol levels and reduced
the atherosclerotic plaque formation to about 50% and 86%, respectively and
these effects were at degrees comparable to those of simvastatin.(19)
Antiurolithiatic
Activity:
The
effect of oral administration of aqueous and alcoholic extract of M.
oleifera root-wood on calcium oxalate urolithiasis has been studied in male
Wistar albino rats. Ethylene glycol feeding resulted in hyperoxaluria as well
as increased renal excretion of calcium and phosphate. Supplementation with
aqueous and alcoholic extract of M. oleifera root-wood significantly
reduced the elevated urinary oxalate, showing a regulatory action on endogenous
oxalate synthesis. The increased deposition of stone forming constituents in
the kidneys of calculogenic rats was also significantly lowered by curative and
preventive treatment using aqueous and alcoholic extracts. Thus the results
point to that the root-wood of M. oleifera is endowed with
antiurolithiatic activity.(20)
Gastric
Ulcer Protective Activity:
Das et
al., studied the possible antiulcer effects of water extracts of M.
oleifera in two animal models of ulcers. The water extract of leaves was
tested for antiulcer activity at the dose level of 200 mg and 400 mg/kg p.o. in
pyloric ligation and ibuprofen induced gastric ulcer models. The severity of
gastric ulceration in both the models was assessed based on the means of ulcer
index. Both the models produced moderate to severe ulcers in control group of
animals; in that the maximum was by pylorus ligation method. Both famotidine
and the extract of M. oleifera significantly (p<0.001) reduced the
ulcer index as compared to control group in both ulcer models. The antiulcer
effect of M. oleifera was comparable with that of the standard drugs in
pylorus ligation and ibuprofen induced ulcer methods. Famotidine and M.
oleifera extract significantly (p<0.05) reduced the free acidity and
total acidity of gastric juice. It is equally potent when compared to
famotidine.(21)
Presence
of flavonoids has also been reported to offer some protection in ulcer development
by increasing capillary resistance, and improve microcirculation which renders
the cells less injurious to precipitating factors.(22)
The
leaf extract of the plant was found to protect the gastric mucosa against
indomethacin effect in a dose dependent manner. Phytochemical constituent of
the leaf extract of M. oleifera (tannins and flavonoids) that reduced
initiation and perpetuation of ulceration may be responsible for the observed
effects. The leaf extract thus has the potential of an antiulcerogenic agent,
which suggest it’s used in traditional medicine.(23)
Cardioprotective Activity:
Nandave et al., evaluated cardioprotective effect of lyophilized
hydroalcoholic extract of M. oleifera in the isoproterenol (ISP)-induced
model of myocardial infarction. Chronic treatment with M. oleifera demonstrated
mitigating effects on ISP-induced hemodynamic [HR, (+) LV dP/dt, (-) LV dP/dt,
and LVEDP] perturbations. Chronic M. oleifera treatment resulted in
significant favorable modulation of the biochemical enzymes (superoxide
dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, lactate dehydro- genase, and
creatine kinase-MB) but failed to express any significant effect on reduced
glutathione compared to the ISP control group. Moringa treatment
significantly prevented the rise in lipid peroxidation in myocardial tissue.
Furthermore, M. oleifera also prevented the deleterious
histopathological and ultrastructural perturbations caused by ISP. Based on the
results of the present study, it can be concluded that M. oleifera extract
possesses significant cardioprotective effect, which may be attributed to its
antioxidant, antiperoxidative, furthermore myocardial preservative properties.(24)
Haemagglutinating activity:
Seed flour from M. oleifera is widely used as a natural coagulaant for water trearment in
developing countries. Extracts obtained by water soaking of M. oleifera
intact seeds were investigated for the presence lectin, trypsin inhibitor,
tannin as well as anti-oxidant activity. The extracts showed a primary glycopolypeptide band og Mw
20,000; the main native acidic protein ahowed haemagglutinating activity. Water
soluble M. oleifera lectin may be involved in seed coagulant property.(25)
Anti
allergic activity:
To determine the therapeutic potential of M.
oleifera in the control of allergic disease, the efficacy of ethanolic
extract of seeds of this plant against ovalbumin induced airqay inflammation in
guinea pig was examined where the test drug administered by oral route prior to
challenge with aerosolized 0.5%
ovalbumin. At the end of the experiment blood was collected to perform total
and differential counts of LI-4, IL-6,TNF-α and broncho-constriction tests
were also performed. Lung lavage fluid was collected for the estimation of
cellular content and cytokines level.
Lung tissue histamine assays were performed and histopathology of trachea to
measure the degree of airway inflammation. The results of these studies
confirms the claim for the usefulness in the treatment of allergic disorder.(26)
Chemomodulatory
Activity :
The modulatory effects of a hydro-alcoholic extract of M. oleifera at
doses of 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg body weight for 7 and 14 days respectively
were investigated with reference to drug metabolizing phase-I and phase-II
enzymes, anti-oxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidationi the liver of 6-8 week old
female Swiss albino mice. Further the chemopreventive efficacy of the extract
was evaluated in to stage model of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene induced skin
papillomagenesis. The skin papillomagenesis studies demonstrated a significant
decrease in the % of mice with papillomas, avg. no. of papillomas per mouse and
papillomas per papilloma bearing mouse when the animal received topical
application of the extract at the dose of 5 mg/kg bodyweight. The percentage
inhibition of tumor multiplicity has been recorded and these finding suggestive
of a possible chemopreventive potential of this plant extract against chemical
carcinogenesis.(27)
Other Activities:
The Moringa powder was also exploited as anti-AIDS agent.
Anti-HIV activity could be due to its immunostimulatory effect. It is also
known that polysaccharide isolated from the hot aqueous extract of mature pods
of M. oleifera showed significant macrophage activity through the
release of nitric oxide on mouse monocyte cell line. Hence, it speculated that
the immunostimulatory activity is due to presence of its constituent in
methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera. It was also found that both low
dose (25 mg/kg, p.o.) as well as high dose (750 mg/kg, p.o.) of M. oleifera stimulates
immune system by acting through cellular and humoral immunity in experimental
models of immunity in animals. However, low dose was found to be most effective
than the high dose. This could be due to the presence of toxicant such as
isothiocyanate and glycoside cyanides that may pose stress at high
concentration and hence reducing the antioxidant potential of Moringa
oleifera.(28)
CONCLUSION:
Moringa oleifera Lam., an important medicinal plant, is one of the most
widely cultivated species of the family Moringaceae. Leaves, barks, roots,
stems, buds, flowers etc. have been used for different human ailments.
Pharmacologically reported effects include anti-bacterial, antifungal,
anti-inflammatory and analgesic, antioxidant, hypotensive, anti-ulcer, anaesthetic
cardioprotective, antiurolithiatic activity and wound healing activity etc.
This review summarizes only some pharmacological activities of Moringa
oleifera which can be investigated further to isolate active compounds for
novel herbal medicine.
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