Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Evaluations of Moringa oleifera Lam Leaves Extract and Isolated Compounds

Abstract

Moringa oleifera, native to India, grows in tropical and subtropical regions around the world and has valuable pharmacological properties such as anti-asthmatic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-infertility, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, antioxidant, and many more. The purpose of this study was to assess the free radical scavenging ability of two extracts and two pure compounds of M. oleifera Lam (hexane, ethanol, compound E3, and compound Ra) against reactive oxygen species, as well as their reducing power and antimicrobial activities. Bioautography antioxidant assay, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) free radical scavenging, and iron (iii) (Fe3+ to Fe2+) chloride reducing power assays were used to assess the extracts’ qualitative and quantitative free radical scavenging activities. Furthermore, the extract and the compounds were tested against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains suspended in Mueller–Hinton Broth. The extracts and pure compounds showed noteworthy antioxidant potential, with positive compound bands in the Rf range of 0.05–0.89. DPPH), H2O2, and Fe3+ to Fe2+ reduction assays revealed that ethanol extract has a high antioxidant potential, followed by compound E3, compound Ra, and finally hexane extract. Using regression analysis, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for test and control samples were calculated. Compound Ra and ethanol exhibited high antioxidant activity at concentrations as low as ≈0.28 mg/mL in comparison with n-hexane extract, compound E3, ascorbic acid, and butylated hydroxytoluene standards. The radical scavenging activity of almost all M. oleifera plant extracts against DPPH was observed at 0.28 mg/mL; however, the highest activity was observed at the same concentration for ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) with a low IC50 value of 0.08 mg/mL and compound Ra and ethanol with a low IC50 of 0.4 mg/mL, respectively. The extracts and pure compounds of M. oleifera have little to no antibacterial potential. M. oleifera extracts contain antioxidant agents efficient to alleviate degenerative conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease but have little activity against infectious diseases.

Leaves of Moringa oleifera Are Potential Source of Bioactive Compound β-Carotene: Evidence from In Silico and Quantitative Gene Expression Analysis

“…It was reported in several studies that M. oleifera is a good source of therapeutic proteins and bioactive components [ 17 ]. More recently, it has been revealed that the leaves of M. oleifera contain antioxidant agents which have the ability to alleviate degenerative conditions such as cardiovascular cancer, but their efficacy as antimicrobial agents against infectious diseases is relatively lower [ 18 ]. Similarly, another study reported that leaf extracts of M. oleifera have significant antioxidant and antimicrobial properties which confirm their potential as a cure against a wide variety of infectious diseases [ 19 ]…”

Characterization of Microbial Cellulose Generated in Fermented Moringa and Coated with Flaxseed Mucilage

“…Antioxidant activity and total phenolic compounds in NCD and RCD showed no statistical differences (Table 2). The process of obtaining extracts and the type and characteristics of plant substrates can in uence the quanti cation of antioxidants and phenolic compounds (Segwatibe et al, 2023).…”

“…Segwatibe et al (2023) found 50% inhibition of the DPPH radical in moringa leaf extracts;Mondal et al (2022) reported 48.23% in a coating with crude algae extracts Li et al (2022). reported up to 95.03% inhibition by adding curcumin and phloretin to a konjac glucomannan matrix.The total content of phenolic compounds ranged from 103.89 to 112.30 mg GAE/mL, higher in RCD.…”

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

“…The use of antibiotics and other chemicals both for disease control and water treatment in aquaculture has begun to receive social and political pressure aimed at reducing the damage these chemicals cause to humans, animals, and the environment 127 . Based on this, M. oleifera would be a great substitute for the synthetic chemicals currently in use in aquaculture, since it has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and also has the ability to coagulate and sediment dirt particles 128 . In the improvement of water quality, suspensions from the smashed seeds of M. oleifera are known to decrease turbidity and organic matter; the protein content of the seed extracts also removes humic acids, improving the water 129 .…”

“…127 Based on this, M. oleifera would be a great substitute for the synthetic chemicals currently in use in aquaculture, since it has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and also has the ability to coagulate and sediment dirt particles. 128 In the improvement of water quality, suspensions from the smashed seeds of M. oleifera are known to decrease turbidity and organic matter; the protein content of the seed extracts also removes humic acids, improving the water. 129 Against V. cholera, S. aureus, and E. coli isolated from tilapia fish, the antimicrobial activities of the seed extracts of M. oleifera showed inhibitory actions.…”