Oleifera Plant Research Articles

Nutritional and Physico-Chemical Evaluations of Moringa oleifera Seedlings and Oil

This work was intended to respectively examine the proximate analysis; mineral compositions and physicochemical parameters of Moringa oleifera seeds and its extracted seed oil. Harvested seedlings of Moringa oleifera plant obtained from Chukwun community in Kaduna State of Nigeria presented an oil yield of 42.51%. Percentage values of 3.47, 6.84, 3.99, 26.48, 48.29 and 12.44 respectively represents the moisture content, crude fibre content, total ash, protein content, crude fat content and carbohydrate content of the seeds. The mineral elemental concentration carried out showed potassium having the highest concentration of 368.95 mg/kg while zinc concentration was the lowest (6.82). Physico-chemical examinations of its seed oil reveal 194.75 mg KOH/g sample, 68.41 gICl/100g sample, and 5.6 mg KOH/g sample respective values for saponification, iodine and acid values. The findings from this investigation show that Moringa oleifera seed and oil extracted from it could be consumed and its oil could be used as base materials for several industrial processes.

Effects of Gliricidia Biochar and Inorganic Fertilizer on Moringa Plant Grown in an Oxisol

Biochar (pyrolyzed biomass) has been shown to have potential in increasing crop yield, particularly in tropical soils. Little information, however, is available on how various biochar types affect crop yield in different soil types in Nigeria. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of gliricidia biochar on the growth of moringa (Moringa oleifera) plant, which offers numerous medicinal and nutritional benefits to users. A factorial pot experiment was conducted to examine the effect of gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) biochar (GB) and NPK inorganic fertilizer on the moringa plant. Biochar at five rates of 0, 22, 44, 88, and 176 g in combination with NPK 15:15:15 inorganic fertilizer at five rates of 0, 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, and 2.4 g were added to 10 kg sandy soil classified as Oxisol. There was a positive but comparable effect of applying gliricidia biochar and inorganic fertilizer. Tree height, stem diameter, and dry-matter mass increased with increase in application rates of the amendments. The main effects of biochar and fertilizer on different plant parameters were significant but the effects of the interaction of biochar and fertilizer were not significant. The results established that in places where inorganic fertilizers are limited, gliricidia biochar could be applied to produce healthy moringa seedlings.

Bioactive Extract from Moringa oleifera Inhibits the Pro-inflammatory Mediators in Lipopolysaccharide Stimulated Macrophages.

Introduction:Inflammation is a well-known physiological response to protect the body against infection and restore tissue injury. Nevertheless, the chronic inflammation can trigger various inflammatory associated diseases/disorder. Moringa oleifera is a widely grown plant in most tropical countries and it has been recognized traditionally for several medicinal benefits.Objectives:The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of M. oleifera extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) - stimulated macrophages.Materials and Methods:The anti-inflammatory effect of M. oleifera hydroethanolic bioactive leaves extracts was evaluated by assessing the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production during Griess reaction and the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in macrophages.Results:Interestingly, we found that M. oleifera hydroethanolic bioactive leaves extract significantly inhibited the secretion of NO production and other inflammatory markers such as prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β. Meanwhile, the bioactive extract has induced the production of IL-10 in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, M. oleifera hydroethanolic bioactive leaves extract effectively suppressed the protein expression of inflammatory markers inducible NO synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells p65 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion:These findings support the traditional use of M. oleifera plant as an effective treatment for inflammation associated diseases/disorders.SUMMARY Hydroethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera effectively inhibit the NO production in LPS induced inflammatory model.M. oleifera crude extracts successfully modulate the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in LPS stimulated macrophages.M. oleifera extracts suppressed the expression of inflammatory mediators in LPS stimulated macrophages.

Revisión de las características y usos de la planta Moringa oleífera

Publicación semestral del Centro de Investigaciones en Desarrollo Humano -CIDHUM-, de la División de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales y de la Dirección de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación -DIDI- de la Universidad del Norte; que pone al alcance de la comunidad nuevas perspectivas y potencialidades de la investigación en el campo del desarrollo humano

Preliminary Crystallographic Analysis of a Cruciferin Protein from Seeds of Moringa oleifera

A 55 kDa cruciferin protein has been purified and characterized from seeds of Moringa oleifera plant. Protein blast of N-terminal amino-acid sequence showed 60 % sequence similarity with cruciferin from Brassica napus. The M. oleifera protein has been crystallized applying the sitting drop method using 5 % polyethylene glycol 8,000, 38.5 % 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol and 0.1 M sodium cacodylate pH 6.5. The crystals belonged to the P6322 hexagonal space group with cell dimensions, a = b = 98.4, c = 274.3 Å. Initial diffraction data have been collected to a resolution of 6 Å.

Comparison of antimicrobial activities of brine salting, chlorinated solution and Moringa oleifera plant extracts in fish from Lake Victoria basin of Kenya

Chemical preservatives can be used to reduce the overall microbial populations in fish and fish products. This study was set to determine the antimicrobial activities of brine salting, chlorinated solution, and Moringa oleifera plant extracts treatments on enteric bacteria in Rastrineobola argentea and Oreochromis niloticus fish collected from beaches and markets in Lake Victoria basi n of western Kenya. Using a cross-sectional samples collection design, fresh fish ( Rastrineobola argentea and Oreochromis niloticus ) samples were randomly collected from three fish landing beaches (Dunga, Luanda Rombo and Sirongo) and from three markets (Kisumu, Luanda and Bondo), in the Lake Victoria Basin of western Kenya and take n to the laboratory within 4 hours for processing and treatments with preservatives. The preservatives were sodium chloride solutions (3%, 6%, 9% and 12%), sodi um hypochlorite (50ppm, 100ppm, 150ppm and 200ppm), and Moringa oleifera n-hexane and ethanol ex tract solutions (20μg/ml, 40μg/ml, 60μg/ml, and 80μg/ml), respectively. The treatments were done for 0hrs, 2hrs, 4hrs, 6hrs and 8hrs, before bacteria growth analysis using most probable number and aerobic plate count methods. Statistical differences in effectiveness of the preservatives was determined by one factor ANOVA with P<0.05 value considered statistically significant. The results showed that with increase in salt concentration and after 8 hours treatment duration, there was a significant reduction of microbial load in R. argentae and O. niloticus fish samples, P<0.05, one factor ANOVA. The effectiveness of chlorinated solution (sodium hypochlorite) against the bacteria decreased with time but increased with increase in concentration. As M. oleifera n-hexane and ethanol extracts concentrations increased and after 8 hours treatment duration, there was significant decrease in microbial loads, P<0.001 by one factor ANOVA. Over all, sodium chloride at 12% concentration was the most effective and chlorine solution even at 200ppm was the least effective while the M. oleifera plant extrtional sodium chloride, M. oleifera plant extracts can also be used as antimicrobial agent for processing and preservation of fish.

Comparison of antioxidant activity of Moringa oleifera and selected vegetables in South Africa

The antioxidant activity of the leaves and flowers of the Moringa oleifera plant were investigated and the results were compared to those of selected vegetables (cabbage, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and peas). Antioxidant activity was determined by analysing the total phenolics content, total flavonoids content, reducing power and radical scavenging activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical method. The total phenolics content of moringa was almost twice that of the vegetables and the total flavonoids content was three times that of the selected vegetables. The reducing power of moringa was higher than that of the vegetables and the percentage of free radicals remaining was lower compared with the vegetables. These results combined show that moringa is a good source of antioxidants. This finding also explains why moringa forms part of the diet of people in many developing countries, especially in the southern hemisphere.