An Investigation of the Antioxidant Capacity in Extracts from Moringa oleifera Plants Grown in Jamaica.

Racquel Wright,Jacqueline Hibbert,Hyacinth Hyacinth,Andrew Wheatley,Helen Asemota,Marvin Reid,Ken Lee

doi:10.3390/plants6040048

Abstract

Moringa oleifera trees grow well in Jamaica and their parts are popularly used locally for various purposes and ailments. Antioxidant activities in Moringa oleifera samples from different parts of the world have different ranges. This study was initiated to determine the antioxidant activity of Moringa oleifera grown in Jamaica. Dried and milled Moringa oleifera leaves were extracted with ethanol/water (4:1) followed by a series of liquid–liquid extractions. The antioxidant capacities of all fractions were tested using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. IC50 values (the amount of antioxidant needed to reduce 50% of DPPH) were then determined and values for the extracts ranged from 177 to 4458 μg/mL. Extracts prepared using polar solvents had significantly higher antioxidant capacities than others and may have clinical applications in any disease characterized by a chronic state of oxidative stress, such as sickle cell anemia. Further work will involve the assessment of these extracts in a sickle cell model of oxidative stress.

Highlights

The Moringa oleifera plant, which is known as “Marengue” in Jamaica, is one of the 13 species in the Moringa genus
The slope of the DPPH reduction percentage plot was used as an indicator of antioxidant capacity
This seems to be the first study of antioxidant activity using Moringa sourced from Jamaica, as the literature tends to lack any such information

Summary

Introduction

The Moringa oleifera plant, which is known as “Marengue” in Jamaica, is one of the 13 species in the Moringa genus. Other species include Moringa stenopetala and Moringa ovalifolia. Moringa oleifera is called the Horseradish tree, and like horseradish it possesses a taproot system that supports the umbrella-like canopy of the trunk, leaves, and branches [1,2]. The leaves are tripinnate and grow with a fragile feather-like drooping crown. Fragrant flowers grow as spreading auxillary panicles and are yellowish white, and when fertilized produce pods resembling that of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), commonly referred to as string beans or snap beans. The pods are initially green; as Moringa pods mature, they become brown and thicker [2]

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Conclusion