Reduction of Malnutrition Related to Unsafe Water Consumption in Developing Countries: Potabilization of Surface Water and Traditional Well Water, with Plant Extracts.

The consumption of unsafe water in rural areas is a real public health problem in developing countries. This situation mainly affects children under five years of age and causes several deaths and many cases of malnutrition every year. The objective of this study was to evaluate and optimize the capacity of four local plant extracts in the potabilization of unsafe water. Thus, Moringa oleifera and Boscia senegalensis seeds, or Aloe vera and Opuntia ficus-indica mucilages were prepared in a solution and applied during a jar test as biocoagulants and bioflocculants on three raw water samples of 82.3 NTU, 549.8 NTU and 796.9 NTU. After treatment results showed that 0.9 g/L of Moringa biocoagulant or 1 g/L of Boscia biocoagulant applied with 0.4 mL of Aloe vera bioflocculant or 0.6 mL of Opuntia ficus-indica bioflocculant reduced the turbidity of each water sample to values less than 5 NTU after only 15 min of decanting. Moreover, the sanitary quality of the water treated by these different extracts showed a perfect conformity of the physicochemical and microbiological parameters with the standards of acceptability in drinking water decreed by the World Health Organization. Thus, the application of these local plant extracts has made it possible to considerably improve the quality of unsafe water in record time. Their popularization could be an alternative in the fight against malnutrition related to the consumption of unsafe water, especially in rural areas.

Germination Increases the Glucomoringin Content in Moringa Sprouts via Transforming Tyrosine.

Moringa seeds are an excellent dietary source of phytochemicals (i.e., glucosinolates, GSLs; isothiocyanates, ITCs) with health-beneficial effects. Although numerous studies have been conducted on moringa seeds, the effect of germination on the regulation of GSLs remains scarcely explored. The present study investigated the dynamic changes of GSLs in moringa seeds during germination (at 25, 30, and 35 °C for 6 days in the dark) through an untargeted metabolomics approach and compared the antioxidant capacity of ungerminated and germinated moringa seeds. Our results showed that germination significantly increased the total GSL content from 150 (day 0) to 323 µmol/g (35 °C, day 6) on a dry weight (DW) basis, especially glucomoringin (GMG), the unique glucosinolate in moringa seeds, which was significantly upregulated from 61 (day 0) to 149 µmol/g DW (35 °C, day 4). The upregulation of GMG corresponded to the metabolism of tyrosine, which might be the initial precursor for the formation of GMG. In addition, germination enhanced the total ITC content from 85 (day 0) to 239 µmol SE/g DW (35 °C, day 6), indicating that germination may have also increased the activity of myrosinase. Furthermore, germination remarkably increased the total phenolic content (109-507 mg GAE/100 g DW) and antioxidant capacity of moringa seeds. Our findings suggest that moringa sprouts could be promoted as a novel food and/or ingredient rich in GMG.

Green Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Using Moringa Peregrina and Their Toxicity on MCF-7 and Caco-2 Human Cancer Cells.

Introduction: The synthesis of nanoparticles using naturally occurring reagents such as vitamins, sugars, plant extracts, biodegradable polymers and microorganisms as reductants and capping agents could be considered attractive for nanotechnology. These syntheses have led to the fabrication of limited number of inorganic nanoparticles. Among the reagents mentioned above, plant-based materials seem to be the best candidates, and they are suitable for large-scale biosynthesis of nanoparticles. Methods: The aqueous extract of Moringa peregrina leaves was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by various spectral studies including FT-IR, SEM, HR-TEM and XRD. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the silver nanoparticles was studied viz. DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl radical scavenging, superoxide radical scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging potential and reducing power with varied concentrations. The anticancer potential of the nanoparticles was also studied against MCF-7 and Caco-2 cancer cell lines. Results: The results showed that silver nanoparticles displayed strong antioxidant activity compared with gallic acid. Furthermore, the anticancer potential of the nanoparticles against MCF-7 and Caco-2 in comparison with the standard Doxorubicin revealed that the silver nanoparticles produced significant toxic effects against the studied cancer cell lines with the IC50 values of 41.59 (Caco-2) and 26.93 (MCF-7) µg/mL. Conclusion: In conclusion, the biosynthesized nanoparticles using M. peregrina leaf aqueous extract as a reducing agent showed good antioxidant and anticancer potential on human cancer cells and can be used in biological applications.

Effect of moringa extract on parasitemia, monocyte activation and organomegaly among Mus musculus infected by Plasmodium berghei ANKA.

In Indonesia, malaria remains a problem, with 94,610 active cases in 2021 and its current therapy includes chloroquine and artemisinin; however, resistance has been commonly reported. To overcome this problem, studies about potential medicinal plants that can be used as antimalaria, such as moringa (Moringa oleifera) started to receive more attention. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of moringa in parasitemia, monocyte activation, and organomegaly on animal model malaria. This experimental study used male Mus musculus, infected by Plasmodium berghei ANKA, as an animal malaria model. The extract was made by maceration of dry moringa leaves, which were then divided into three concentrations: 25%, 50%, and 75%. Dihydroartemisinin-piperazine was used as a positive control treatment, and distilled water as a negative control treatment. The animals were observed for six days to assess the parasitemia count and the number of monocyte activation. On day 7, the animals were terminated, and the liver, spleen, and kidney were weighed. The results showed that the effective concentrations in reducing parasitemia and inducing monocyte activation were 50% and 25% of moringa leaf extract, respectively. The smallest liver and spleen enlargement was observed among animals within the group treated with a 50% concentration of M. oleifera extract. In contrast, the smallest kidney enlargement was observed in the group treated with 25% of M. oleifera extract. Further analysis is recommended to isolate compounds with antimalarial properties in moringa leaves.

Evaluation of Cytotoxic effect of Moringa peregrina seeds on Oral Cancer, CAL 27, Cell Line and Red Blood Cells Hemolysis / Evaluación del efecto citotóxico de las semillas de Moringa peregrina en el cáncer oral, CAL 27, líneas celulares y hemólisis de glóbulos rojos

Background: Moringa peregrina Forssk is a well-known plant in ethnomedicine due to its widespread uses in various diseases like cough, wound healing, rhinitis, fever, and detoxification. The plant seeds contain compounds that are cytotoxic to many cancer cells. During the therapeutic use of plants via the oral route, some compounds present in the plants may be cytotoxic to normal cell lines and red blood cells. Objective: This study was the first report of investigation of the cytotoxic profile on oral cancer, CAL 27, cell line, and hemolytic activities on human erythrocytes of Moringa peregrina seeds ethanolic extract (MPSE). Methods: MPSE was screened for its cytotoxic effect against oral cancer, CAL 27, cell line using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5,-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The toxicity of MPSE on human erythrocytes was determined by in vitro hemolytic assay. Results: MPSE showed significant anti-proliferative activity against oral cancer, CAL 27 cell line at lower concentrations with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 21.03 µg/mL. At 1,000 µg/ml of MPSE, the maximum hemolysis was found to be 14.3% which is within safer limit. Conclusions: This study revealed a potential anti-oral cancer of MPSE and provided a baseline for its potential use in oral cancer treatment with minimum hemolytic effect on human RBCs.

La Moringa peregrina Forssk es una planta muy conocida en etnomedicina debido a sus usos generalizados en diversas enfermedades como la tos, la cicatrización de heridas, la rinitis, la fiebre y la desintoxicación. Las semillas de la planta contienen compuestos citotóxicos para muchas células cancerosas. Durante el uso terapéutico de las plantas por vía oral, algunos compuestos presentes en ellas pueden ser citotóxicos para las líneas celulares normales y los glóbulos rojos. Objetivo: Este estudio fue el primer informe de investigación del perfil citotóxico sobre el cáncer oral, CAL 27, línea celular, y las actividades hemolíticas en eritrocitos humanos del extracto etanólico de semillas de Moringa peregrina (MPSE). Métodos: Se examinó el efecto citotóxico del MPSE contra la línea celular de cáncer oral CAL 27 mediante el ensayo con bromuro de 3-(4, 5-dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2, 5,-difeniltetrazolio (MTT). La toxicidad del MPSE sobre los eritrocitos humanos se determinó mediante un ensayo hemolítico in vitro. Resultados: MPSE mostró una actividad antiproliferativa significativa contra el cáncer oral, línea celular CAL 27 a concentraciones más bajas con un valor de concentración inhibitoria media máxima (IC50) de 21,03 µg/mL. A 1.000 µg/ml de MPSE, la hemólisis máxima fue del 14,3%, lo que está dentro del límite de seguridad. Conclusiones: Este estudio reveló un potencial anticancerígeno oral de MPSE y proporcionó una base para su uso potencial en el tratamiento del cáncer oral con un efecto hemolítico mínimo en los glóbulos rojos humanos.

Enzyme Inhibitory and Anti-cancer Properties of Moringa peregrina / Propiedades inhibidoras Enzimáticas y Anticancerígenas de la Moringa peregrina

Background: Moringa peregrina is widely used in the traditional medicine of the Arabian Peninsula to treat various ailments, because it has many pharmacologically active components with several therapeutic effects. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of Moringaperegrina seed ethanolic extract (MPSE) against key enzymes involved in human pathologies, such as angiogenesis (thymidine phosphorylase), diabetes (α-glucosidase), and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (carbonic anhydrase). In addition, the anticancer properties were tested against the SH-SY5Y (human neuroblastoma). Results: MPSE extract significantly inhibited α-glucosidase, thymidine phosphorylase, and carbonic anhydrase with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) values of 303.1 ± 1.3, 471.30 ± 0.3, and 271.30 ± 5.1 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the antiproliferative effect of the MPSE was observed on the SH-SY5Y cancer cell line with IC50 values of 55.1 µg/mL. Conclusions: MPSE has interesting inhibitory capacities against key enzymes and human neuroblastoma cancer cell line.

Antecedentes: La Moringa peregrina se utiliza ampliamente en la medicina tradicional de la Península Arábiga para tratar diversas dolencias, ya que posee numerosos componentes farmacológicamente activos con varios efectos terapéuticos. Objetivo: Este estudio tenía como objetivo investigar el efecto inhibidor del extracto etanólico de semillas de Moringaperegrina (MPSE) frente a enzimas clave implicadas en patologías humanas, como la angiogénesis (timidina fosforilasa), la diabetes (α-glucosidasa) y la hipertensión intracraneal idiopática (anhidrasa carbónica). Además, se comprobaron las propiedades anticancerígenas frente al SH-SY5Y (neuroblastoma humano). Resultados: El extracto de MPSE inhibió significativamente la α-glucosidasa, la timidina fosforilasa y la anhidrasa carbónica con concentraciones inhibitorias semimáximas (IC50) de 303,1 ± 1,3, 471,30 ± 0,3 y 271,30 ± 5,1 µg/mL, respectivamente. Además, se observó el efecto antiproliferativo del MPSE en la línea celular del cáncer SH-SY5Y con valores de IC50 de 55,1 µg/mL. Conclusiones: MPSE posee interesantes capacidades inhibitorias frente a enzimas clave y línea celular de neuroblastoma canceroso humano.

Holistic food safety evaluation of herbs: methods for the determination of organic and inorganic trace contaminants in Moringa stenopetala as a case study.

Moringa stenopetala is considered a superfood due to the many bioactive compounds that it provides to the diet. However, like all edible plants, it is mandatory to guarantee food safety. Thus it is necessary to develop analytical methods that can rapidly and accurately determine hazardous pollutants, to evaluate compliance with food regulations. In this regard, two multi-component procedures were developed trying to cover some of the main organic and inorganic potential contaminants. A microwave-assisted digestion followed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was used for arsenic, cadmium, and lead determination, while a modification of the QuEChERS protocol followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was employed for the determination of 55 pesticides from different families. Both analytical methods were thoroughly validated according to international guidelines. The analyzed samples obtained from the Uruguayan market showed compliance with both, national and international, food regulations. The holistic approach employed in this research is not commonly presented in the literature, thus constituting a novel way to face food safety.

UV blocking edible films based on corn starch/moringa gum incorporated with pine cone extract for sustainable food packaging.

Corn starch (CS) is a good alternative to synthetic polymers due to its sustainability; nevertheless, because of its weak tensile strength, the matrix requires another polymer. Therefore, 0.5 % (w/v) moringa gum (MG) was added. The purpose of this study was to assess how pine cone extract (PCE) affected the physiochemical and mechanical properties of corn starch and moringa gum (CS/MG) films and their use as UV-blocking composites. The findings suggest that the PCE improved the elongation at break from 3.27 % to 35.2 % while greatly reducing the tensile strength. The hydrogen bonding between CS/MG and PCE was visible in the FTIR spectra. The XRD graph indicated that the films were amorphous. In comparison to CS/MG films, PCE-incorporated edible films demonstrated significant UV-blocking ability indicating their potential as sustainable packaging material for light-sensitive food products.

Cactus species and tree forage hay in the diet of dairy goats.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the association of Opuntia stricta (OS) or Nopalea cochenillifera (NC) with Moringa hay (MY) or Leucaena hay (LY) on nutrient intake, ingestive behavior, serum biochemistry, and milk production and composition of dairy goat. Eight multiparous Saanen goats were used, with an average of 68 ± 8 days in milk and 48.5 ± 6 kg of initial weight, fed with the following treatment diets: OS + MY; OS + LY; NC + MY, and NC + LY. The treatments were distributed in a double Latin square, in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme (two varieties of cactus and two of hay). Goats fed with NC had higher (P < 0.05) intakes of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and non-fibrous carbohydrates. There was no influence (P > 0.05) on milk production, but goats fed with OS produced milk with higher (P < 0.05) fat content and presented higher (P < 0.05) feed efficiency. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of the hay type on the nutrient intake and milk production and composition of goats, but the animals fed with MY had higher (P < 0.05) serum cholesterol levels and greater efficiency of NDF rumination. Goats fed with OS showed greater feeding and rumination efficiency. Our results indicated that both cactus species could be successfully included in the diet of low yielding dairy goats fed 18.4% concentrate.

n-Butanol fraction of moringa seed attenuates arsenic intoxication by regulating the uterine inflammatory and apoptotic pathways.

The adverse effects of arsenic-chelating drugs make it essential to replace invasive chelating therapy with non-invasive oral therapy for arsenic poisoning. The goal of the current investigation was to determine whether the uterine damage caused by arsenization could be repaired by the n-butanol fraction of Moringa oleifera seed (NB). The rats were orally administered with arsenic (10 mg/kg BW) for the initial 8 days, followed by NB (50 mg/kg) for the next 8 days without arsenic. The probable existence of different components in NB was evaluated by HPLC-MS. Pro and anti-inflammatory indicators were assessed by RT-PCR and western blot. ESR-α was detected via immunostaining. Arsenic-exposed rats had significantly increased lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant enzyme activity, which were markedly reduced after NB treatment. Weaker ESR-α expression and distorted uterine histomorphology following arsenication were retrieved significantly by NB. Meaningful restoration by NB was also achieved for altered mRNA and protein expression of various inflammatory and apoptotic indicators. Molecular interaction predicted that glucomoringin and methyl glucosinolate of moringa interact with the catalytic site of caspase-3 in a way that limits its activity. However, NB was successful in restoring the arsenic-mediated uterine hypofunction. The glucomoringin and methyl glucosinolate present in n-butanol fraction may play a critical role in limiting apoptotic event in the arsenicated uterus.

In Vivo Wound Healing Potential and Molecular Pathways of Amniotic Fluid and Moringa Olifera-Loaded Nanoclay Films.

Cutaneous wounds pose a significant health burden, affecting millions of individuals annually and placing strain on healthcare systems and society. Nanofilm biomaterials have emerged as promising interfaces between materials and biology, offering potential for various biomedical applications. To explore this potential, our study aimed to assess the wound healing efficacy of amniotic fluid and Moringa olifera-loaded nanoclay films by using in vivo models. Additionally, we investigated the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of these films. Using a burn wound healing model on rabbits, both infected and non-infected wounds were treated with the nanoclay films for a duration of twenty-one days on by following protocols approved by the Animal Ethics Committee. We evaluated wound contraction, proinflammatory mediators, and growth factors levels by analyzing blood samples. Histopathological changes and skin integrity were assessed through H&E staining. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 2; Chicago, IL, USA) with significance set at p < 0.05. Our findings demonstrated a significant dose-dependent increase in wound contraction in the 2%, 4%, and 8% AMF-Me.mo treatment groups throughout the study (p < 0.001). Moreover, macroscopic analysis revealed comparable effects (p > 0.05) between the 8% AMF-Me.mo treatment group and the standard treatment. Histopathological examination confirmed the preservation of skin architecture and complete epidermal closure in both infected and non-infected wounds treated with AMF-Me.mo-loaded nanofilms. RT-PCR analysis revealed elevated concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), along with decreased levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in AMF-Me.mo-loaded nanofilm treatment groups. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of AMF-Me.mo-loaded nanofilms contributed to the decontamination of the wound site, positioning them as potential candidates for effective wound healing. However, further extensive clinical trials-based studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Effect of Moringa olifera leaves on growth and gut microbiota of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) / Efeito das folhas da Moringa olifera no crescimento e na microbiota intestinal da tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus)

Abstract The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Moringa olifera on the growth and gut health of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The feed having 30% crude protein was prepared as an experimental diet with 4%, 8% and 10% M. olifera leaf supplementation, respectively. The control diet was devoid of M. olifera leaves. The 10 weeks feeding trial was carried out on 60 fish in aquaria. Fish was fed @ 3% of body weight twice a day. Diet with the high level of inclusion of M. olifera leaves significantly increased the growth rate, Survival Rate (SR), Specific Growth Rate (SGR) and Feed Conversion Efficiency (FCE) in all treatment groups compared to the control group. Similarly, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) gradually decreased and found highly-significant. To check the gut health of the Tilapia, random samples were selected and dissected. Nutrient agar was used as culture media to check the growth of bacteria. Pour Plate Method was used for viable colonies count by colony counter. Through staining method, the different bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were identify abundantly in the intestine of control diet fish but less number present in treatment diets groups. These results showed that M. olifera leaves up to 10% of dietary protein can be used for Nile tilapia for significant growth and healthy gut microbiota of fish.

Resumo O estudo foi conduzido para avaliar o efeito da Moringa olifera no crescimento e saúde intestinal da tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus). A ração com 30% de proteína bruta foi preparada como dieta experimental com 4%, 8% e 10% de suplementação de folhas de M. olifera, respectivamente. A dieta controle foi desprovida de folhas de M. olifera. O ensaio de alimentação de 10 semanas foi realizado em 60 peixes em aquários. O peixe pesava 3% do peso corporal duas vezes ao dia. A dieta com alto nível de inclusão de folhas de M. olifera aumentou significativamente a taxa de crescimento, taxa de sobrevivência (SR), taxa de crescimento de sobrevivência (SGR) e eficiência de conversão alimentar (FCE) em todos os grupos de tratamento em comparação com o grupo de controle. Da mesma forma, a taxa de conversão de alimentação (FCR) diminuiu gradualmente e foi considerada altamente significativa. Para verificar a saúde intestinal da tilápia, amostras aleatórias foram selecionadas e dissecadas. O ágar nutriente foi usado como meio de cultura para verificar o crescimento das bactérias. O método da placa de Verter foi usado para a contagem de colônias viáveis ​​por contador de colônias. Através do método de coloração, diferentes como Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella e Pseudomonas aeruginosa foram identificados abundantemente no intestino de peixes da dieta controle, mas em menor número nos grupos de dieta de tratamento. Esses resultados mostraram que M. olifera deixa até 10% da proteína dietética e pode ser usado para tilápia do Nilo para um crescimento significativo e microbiota intestinal saudável de peixes.

In vivo studies could not confirm in vitro prophylactic synergism between Moringa essential oil and Lactobacillus reuteri (MT180537) / Estudos in vivo não puderam confirmar o sinergismo profilático in vitro entre o óleo essencial de Moringa e Lactobacillus reuteri (MT180537)

Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is a recently defined vaginal recurring infection, which is treated with antibiotics. However, excessive and prolonged use of antibiotics disrupts healthy vaginal microflora and leads to the emergence of antibiotic resistance among pathogens. This situation has directed researchers to explore alternative antimicrobials. The current study describes in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial efficacy and pharmaceutical interactions between plant essential oils (EOs) and five lactic acid bacteria (LABs), isolated from the healthy vagina, against E. faecalis, one of the major etiological agents of AV. In vitro experiments confirm good antimicrobial activity of both plant EOs and cell free supernatant (CFS) from LABs. Based on high antimicrobial efficacy, Moringa essential oil (MO) was selected to determine its nature of interaction with CFS of five LAB strains. Synergism was recorded between MO and CFS of L. reuteri (MT180537). To validate in vitro findings, prophylactic responses of individual and synergistic application of MO and L. reuteri (MT180537) were evaluated in an E. faecalis (MW051601) induced AV murine model. The prophylactic efficacy was evidenced by a reduction in intensity of clinical symptoms, E. faecalis (MW051601) count per vaginal tissue along with a reduction in AV associated changes in histological markers of infection in animals receiving Moringa essential oil and L. reuteri (MT180537) alone or in combination. However, significant synergism between Moringa essential oil and L. reuteri (MT180537) could not be observed. Our data confirms the importance of in vivo experiments in deducing pharmacological interactions.

Vaginite aeróbica (VA) é uma infecção vaginal recorrente definida recentemente, que é tratada com antibióticos. No entanto, o uso excessivo e prolongado de antibióticos perturba a microflora vaginal saudável e leva ao surgimento de resistência aos antibióticos entre os patógenos. Esta situação levou os pesquisadores a explorar antimicrobianos alternativos. O presente estudo descreve a eficácia antimicrobiana in vitro e in vivo e as interações farmacêuticas entre óleos essenciais vegetais (OE) e cinco bactérias lácticas (BAL), isoladas de vagina sã, contra E. faecalis, um dos principais agentes etiológicos da AV. Os experimentos in vitro confirmam a boa atividade antimicrobiana de ambos os EOs de plantas e sobrenadante livre de células (CFS) de LABs. Com base na alta eficácia antimicrobiana, o óleo essencial de Moringa (MO) foi selecionado para determinar sua natureza de interação com o sobrenadante livre de células (CFS) de cinco cepas de LAB. Sinergismo foi registrado entre MO e CFS de L. reuteri (MT180537). Para validar os resultados in vitro, as respostas profiláticas da aplicação individual e sinérgica de MO e L. reuteri (MT180537) foram avaliadas em um modelo murino AV induzido por E. faecalis (MW051601). A eficácia profilática foi evidenciada por uma redução na intensidade dos sintomas clínicos, contagem de E. faecalis (MW051601) por tecido vaginal, juntamente com uma redução nas alterações associadas a AV nos marcadores histológicos de infecção em animais que receberam óleo essencial de Moringa e L. reuteri (MT180537) sozinho ou em combinação. No entanto, não foi possível observar sinergismo significativo entre o óleo essencial de Moringa e L. reuteri (MT180537). Nossos dados confirmam a importância dos experimentos in vivo na dedução de interações farmacológicas.

Modelling habitat suitability for Moringa oleifera and Moringa stenopetala under current and future climate change scenarios.

Moringa oleifera Lam and Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod are being widely promoted as multipurpose trees across the tropics for their nutritional, medicinal and soil health benefits. Different parts of these species are edible, have therapeutic values and their seeds are used for water purification. Although the two species are similar in many ways, they have contrasting distributions. However, their current promotion is not guided by adequate knowledge of the suitability of the target areas. Information is also scanty on the suitability of habitats for these species under the current and future climate change scenarios. Therefore, the objective of this study was to predict the habitat suitability of M. oleifera and M. stenopetala under current and future climate change scenarios using an ensemble of models assuming four shared socio-economic pathways, namely, SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 for 2050 and 2070. The results suggest that areas that are highly suitable for M. oleifera will increase by 0.1% and 3.2% under SSP1-2.6 to SSP5-8.5 by 2050, respectively. By 2070, the area suitable for M. oleifera would likely decrease by 5.4 and 10.6% under SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, respectively. The habitat that is highly suitable for M. stenopetala was predicted to increase by 85-98% under SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios by 2050 and by 2070, while suitable areas could increase by up to 143.6% under SSP5-8.5. The most influential bioclimatic variables for both species were mean diurnal temperature range, mean temperature of driest quarter, precipitation of wettest month, and isothermality. Additionally, soil pH, elevation and water holding capacity were influential variables in the distribution of M. oleifera, while soil pH, soil salinity and slope were influential in M. stenopetala distribution. This study has provided baseline information on the current distribution and possible future habitat suitability, which will be helpful to guide formulation of good policies and practices for promoting Moringa species outside their current range.

Comparing the Effect of Moringa Aqueous Extract and Selenium Nanoparticles Against Complications of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Plant extracts were widely used to maintain postprandial levels and minimize diabetes complications. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of selenium nanoparticles and aqueous extract of the <i>Moringa</i> plant against diabetes mellitus complications and compare their therapeutic effects. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Fifty six Wistar male rats were divided randomly into 8 groups (7 rats each): (i) Control, (ii): Received corn oil, (iii): Treated with Se-NPs, (iv): Injected orally with <i>Moringa</i> aqueous extract (MAE), (v): Treated with a single i.p., dose of streptozotocin (STZ), (vi): Single i.p., dose of STZ followed by Se-NPs, (vii): Treated with a single i.p., dose of STZ then MAE orally and (viii): Injected with STZ and then received Se-NPs. After 4 weeks the blood sera were isolated and stored at -20°C for investigation of values of insulin, GSH, MDA, SOD, GSH-PX, triglycerides, T-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. <b>Results:</b> The STZ treatment decreased insulin, HDL cholesterol and body weight values while increasing glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and mild degeneration of islets of Langerhans. The single treatment of diabetic rats with either MAE or Se-NPs exhibited a decline in the levels of serum glucose, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, MDA and GSH, improving the HDL-cholesterol, insulin level and body weight. <b>Conclusion:</b> The co-administration of diabetic rats with MAE and Se-NPs resulted in a prominent improvement that was revealed by restoring beta-cell function, reducing blood glucose levels and stimulating insulin production rather than their single therapeutic use.

Effect of Moringa Leaf Extract (Moringa oleifera Lam.) on the Diameter of the Primary and Secondary Follicles in Female Mice (Mus musculus).

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Infertility is still a phenomenon in the community, so consuming Moringa leaves (<i>Moringa oleifera</i> Lam.) is expected to increase fertility. This study aimed to determine the effect of Moringa leaf extract (<i>Moringa oleifera</i> Lam.) on the diameter of the primary and secondary follicles in female mice (<i>Mus musculus</i>). <b>Materials and Methods:</b> This study was an experiment using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The population of this study was 45 mice and samples were obtained by a simple random sampling technique from as many as 24 mice with the following criteria: Weight 20-25 g, 2-3 months old, female and in good health. Data analysis was performed through the ANOVA Test with a confidence level of α = 0.05 and further tested for the least significant difference (LSD). <b>Results:</b> Moringa leaf extract significantly positively affects the diameter of primary and secondary follicles in female mice (p<0.05). The average primary follicle diameter was P₀ (92.65 µm), P₁ (124.92 µm), P₂(150.72 µm), P₃ (175.68 µm) and the average secondary follicle diameter was control (157.17 µm), P₁(171.33 µm), P₂ (204.57 µm), P₃ (211.11 µm). Giving Moringa leaf extract (<i>Moringa oleifera</i> Lam.) significantly increases the diameter of mice's primary and secondary follicles due to the presence of vitamin E in Moringa leaf extract (<i>Moringa oleifera</i> Lam.). <b>Conclusion:</b> This can stimulate granulosa cells to secrete the hormone estrogen, causing an increase in the diameter of the primary and secondary follicles.

The Effect of Moringa Isothiocyanate-1 on Renal Damage in Diabetic Nephropathy.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common clinical complication of diabetes mellitus. Moringa isothiocyanate-1 (MIC-1) is effective in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, but its mechanism of action in DN remains obscure. This research specifically probed the role of MIC-1 in modulating renal injury in DN. METHODS: Six db/m mice were assigned to control group and twelve db/db mice were randomly allocated to the db/db and db/db + MIC-1 groups. The body and kidney weights of the mice were monitored. Renal function indicators and oxidative stress-related markers were assessed by automatic biochemical analyzer and ELISA method. The pathological changes, apoptosis of renal tissues, extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) 1/2/ Nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway-related markers, and the positive expressions of podocalyxin (Pod) and synaptopodin (Syn) were measured by H&E, PAS, and TUNEL staining, Western blot, and IHC assay. RESULTS: MIC-1 reduced the body and kidney weights, and increased the kidney organ index (calculated as 100*kidney weight/ body weight) in db/db mice. In addition, MIC-1 improved renal function, kidney tissue injury, and apoptosis of db/db mice. MIC1 noticeably repressed the contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and enhanced the contents of (glutathione) GSH, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in db/db mice. At molecular level, db/db mice showed a decrease in p-ERK/ERK, Nrf2, SOD-1, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and CAT and an increase in p- inhibitor kappa B alpha (IKBα) and p-Nuclear factor-kappa B (P65/P65), which were reversed when MIC-1 was administered. Furthermore, MIC-1 facilitated the positive expressions of Pod and Syn of the kidney tissues in db/db mice. CONCLUSION: MIC-1 reduces oxidative stress and renal injury by activating the ERK/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling and repressing the NFκB signaling in db/db mice.  DOI: 10.52547/ijkd.7515.

[Chemical constituents and their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of seeds of Moringa oleifera].

The chemical constituents of the seeds of Moringa oleifera were isolated and purified by using Sephadex LH-20, Toyo-pearl HW-40F, silica gel, ODS, and MCI column chromatography. The structures of compounds were identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry, ~1H-NMR, ~(13)C-NMR, HMQC, HMBC, and ~1H-~1H COSY, as well as physicochemical properties of compounds and literature data. Twelve compounds were isolated from 30% ethanol fraction of the seeds of M. oleifera and identified as ethyl-4-O-α-L-rhamnosyl-α-L-rhamnoside(1), ethyl-3-O-α-L-rhamnosyl-α-L-rhamnoside(2),(4-hydroxybenzyl)ethyl carbamate(3),(4-aminophenyl)acetic acid(4), ethyl-α-L-rhamnoside(5), methyl-α-L-rhamnoside(6), moringapyranosyl(7), 2-[4-(α-L-rhamnosyl)phenyl]methyl acetate(8), niaziridin(9), 5-hydroxymethyl furfural(10), 4-hydroxybenzeneacetamide(11), and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid(12). Among them, compounds 1 and 2 are two new compounds, compound 3 is a new natural product, and compounds 4-5 were yielded from Moringa plant for the first time. All compounds were evaluated for α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in vitro. Compound 10 showed excellent inhibitory activity with IC_(50) of 210 µg·mL~(-1).

Development of a simple and low-cost method using Moringa seeds for efficient virus concentration in wastewater.

Effective virus concentration methods are essential for detecting pathogenic viruses in environmental waters and play a crucial role in wastewater-based epidemiology. However, the current methods are often expensive, complicated, and time-consuming, which limits their practical application. In this study, a simple and low-cost method was developed using the extract of Moringa oleifera (MO) seeds (MO method) to recover both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, including pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), murine norovirus (MNV), Aichivirus (AiV), murine hepatitis virus (MHV), and influenza A virus subtype H1N1[H1N1] in wastewater. The optimal conditions for the MO method were determined to be a concentration of MO extract at the UV280 value of 0.308 cm-1 and an elution buffer (0.05 M KH2PO4, 1 M NaCl, 0.1 % Tween80 [v/v]) for recovering the tested viruses in wastewater. Compared to other commonly used virus concentration methods such as InnovaPrep, HA, PEG, and Centricon, the MO method was found to be more efficient and cost-effective in recovering the tested viruses. Moreover, the MO method was successfully applied to detect various types of viruses (PMMoV, AiV, norovirus of genotype II [NoV II], enterovirus [EV], influenza A virus [matrix gene] [IAV], and SARS-CoV-2) in raw wastewater. Thus, the developed MO method could offer a simple, low-cost, and efficient tool to concentrate viruses in wastewater.

Enhanced anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenicity of Ibuprofen microsphere formulations using Irvingia wombolu fat (IRW) and moringa oil (MO) as co-lipids.

Ibuprofen is a member of the propionic acid class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities used to relieve a variety of pains. The objective of this study was to formulate, characterize and evaluate the in vitro and in vivo properties of ibuprofen formulated as solid lipid microspheres (SLMs) for enhanced delivery. The mixtures of Irvingia wombolu fat (IRW) and moringa oil (MO) each with Phospholipon® 90G (PL90G) at the ratio of 2:1 w/w were prepared by fusion, characterized and used to prepare SLMs. The SLMS were thereafter evaluated using the following parameters: particle size and morphology, stability, and encapsulation efficiency EE (%). In vitro release was carried out in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). The ibuprofen based SLMs were also evaluated for anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer effects using animal models. The pH showed significant increase after two months of formulation with a maximum value of 6.4 while the EE obtained were 95.6, 89.4 and 61.6% for SLMs formulated with lipid matrix of Phospholipon® 90G (1% and 2%), and MO (1%) respectively. The in vitro release showed maximum release of 87.8 and 98.97% of the two different lipid-based formulations while anti-inflammatory effect was up to 89.90% after 5 h of inducing inflammation. The SLMs did not show any lesion thus conferring gastroprotection on the formulations. The SLMs exhibited good anti-inflammatory property with gastroprotective action.