Research advances on the multiple uses of Moringa oleifera: A sustainable alternative for socially neglected population.

Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae) is a plant with high nutritional and medicinal value. Native to India, it is now widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Its different parts are sources of proteins, vitamins and minerals and present different pharmacological and biotechnological potential. Moreover, M. oleifera seeds are widely used in water and effluent treatment, for their coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation properties, their ability of improving water quality, by reducing organic matter and microbial load, with special applicability in intensive animal production systems, such as aquaculture. In addition, due to its high nutritional value and several medicinal properties, this tree may act as a nutritional and medical alternative for socially neglected populations. In this context, this review gathers information on M. oleifera, emphasizing its chemical constituents, nutritional, pharmacological and antimicrobial properties, applications in the treatment of water effluents, and ecological and social aspects.

Vibrio spp. from Macrobrachium amazonicum prawn farming are inhibited by Moringa oleifera extracts.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the in vitro antimicrobial potential of extracts of stem, leaves, flowers, pods and seeds of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) against Vibrio spp. from hatchery water and the prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum. METHODS: The ethanol extracts of stem, leaves, pods and seeds and chloroform extract of flowers of M. oleifera were tested against Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae) serogroups non-O1/non-O139 (n = 4), Vibrio vulnificus (n = 1) and Vibrio mimicus (n = 1). Escherichia coli (E. coli) (ATCC(®) 25922) was used as quality control. Vibrio species were obtained from Macrobrachium amazonicum prawns and from hatchery water from prawn farming. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined by broth microdilution method. RESULTS: The best result was obtained with the ethanol extract of pods, which inhibited three strains of the V. cholerae, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio mimicus and E. coli (MIC range 0.312-5.000 mg/mL). The chloroform extract of flowers was effective against all V. cholerae strains and E. coli (MIC range 0.625-1.250 mg/mL). However, the ethanol extracts of stem and seeds showed low effectiveness in inhibiting the bacterial growth. CONCLUSIONS: The extracts of pods, flowers and leaves of M. oleifera have potential for the control of Vibrio spp. Further studies are necessary to isolate the bioactive compounds responsible for this antimicrobial activity.