Moringa oleifera leaf extracts inhibit 6beta-hydroxylation of testosterone by CYP3A4.

Monera TG1, Wolfe AR, Maponga CC, Benet LZ, Guglielmo J.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Moringa oleifera is a tropical tree often used as a herbal medicine, including by people who test positive for HIV. Since herbal constituents may interact with drugs via inhibition of metabolizing enzymes, we investigated the effects of extracts of M. oleifera on the CYP3A4-mediated 6beta-hydroxylation of testosterone.

METHODS:

Methanolic and aqueous leaf and root of extracts of M. oleifera with concentrations between 0.01 and 10 mg/ml were incubated with testosterone and mixed-sex human liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH. Metabolite concentrations were determined by HPLC. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was tested with HepG2 cells using the MTT formazan assay.

RESULTS:

Significant CYP3A4 inhibitory effects were found, with IC50 values of 0.5 and 2.5 mg/ml for leaf-methanol and leaf-water extracts, respectively. Root extracts were less active. Cytotoxicity was observed only with the leaf-water extract (IC50 = 6 mg/ml).

CONCLUSIONS:

Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the potential of M. oleifera for clinically significant interactions with antiretroviral and other drugs.

Effect of Moringa oleifera on advanced glycation end-product formation and lipid metabolism gene expression in HepG2 cells.

Sangkitikomol W1, Rocejanasaroj A2, Tencomnao T3.

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Abstract

In Thai traditional medicine, Moringa oleifera is used for the treatment of diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis of many degenerative diseases, such as hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the antioxidant effect of M. oleifera extract (MOE) for reduction of advanced glycation end-product (AGE) formation, cell viability, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism gene expression in HepG2 cells. We found that the lyophilized form of MOE in 80% ethanol possessed mean (± SD) total antioxidant, polyphenolic, and flavonoid contents of 9307 ± 364 TE mM/kg dry mass, 218 ± 1 GE mM/kg dry mass, and 286 ± 12 QE mM/kg dry mass, determined using an oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay, a Folin Ciocalteu phenol assay, and a total flavonoids assay, respectively. Concentrations of 2.5-10.0 mg/mL MOE could inhibit AGE-formation by 10-45%, and 100-1000 mg/L MOE reduced intracellular oxidative stress (P < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner in the DCFH-DA assay. However, MOE induced cytotoxicity at high doses (2000-3000 mg/L), as shown by the MTT assay. MOE significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of the HMG-CoAR, PPARα1, and PPARγ genes (P < 0.05). We concluded that M. oleifera could have benefits for human health by reducing oxidative stress and AGE formation. Moreover, M. oleifera may reduce cholesterol and lipid synthesis by suppression of HMG-CoAR, PPARα1, and PPARγ gene expression, thereby maintaining lipid homeostasis

Nigerian foodstuffs with prostate cancer chemopreventive polyphenols.

Atawodi SE.

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Abstract

Dietary polyphenols are antioxidants that can scavenge biological free radicals, and chemoprevent diseases with biological oxidation as their main etiological factor. In this paper, we review our laboratory data vis-ὰ-vis available literature on prostate cancer chemopreventive substances in Nigerian foodstuffs. Dacryodes edulis fruit, Moringa oleifera and Syzygium aromaticum contained prostate active polyphenols like ellagic acid, gallate, methylgallate, catechol, kaempferol quercetin and their derivatives. Also Canarium schweinfurthii Engl oil contained ten phenolic compounds and lignans, namely; catechol, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, tyrosol, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, dihydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, phloretic acid, pinoresinol, secoisolariciresinol. In addition, tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) which contains the powerful antioxidant and anti-prostate cancer agent, lycopene; cabbage (Brassica oleracea) containing indole-3-carbinol; citrus fruits containing pectin; Soursop (Annona muricata) containing annonaceous acetogenins; soya beans (Glycine max) containing isoflavones; chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum) containing capsaicin, and green tea (Camellia sinensis) containing (-) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (-) epicatechin, (-) epicatechin-3-gallate and (-) epigallocatechin -3-gallate which are widely reported to posses prostate cancer chemopreventive compounds are also grown in Nigeria and other African countries. Thus, the high incidence of prostate cancer among males of African extraction can be dramatically reduced, and the age of onset drastically increased, if the population at risk consumes the right kinds of foods in the right proportion, beginning early in life, especially as prostate cancer has a latency period of about 50 years.

Renoprotective effects of Moringa oleifera pods in 7,12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene-exposed mice.

Sharma V1, Paliwal R, Janmeda P, Sharma S.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the potential of hydroethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera (MOHE) against 7, 12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene (DMBA)-induced toxicity in male Swiss albino mice.

METHODS:

Experimental mice were respectively pretreated with 200 and 400 mg/kg of MOHE, and 0.5% and 1% of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) for two weeks prior to the administration of 15 mg/kg of DMBA, respectively. Levels of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes such as cytochrome (Cyt) P450 and Cyt b5, activities of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and renal aspartate amino transaminase (AST), alanine amino transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and content of protein and total cholesterol were measured to determine the nephrotoxicity caused by DMBA and to elucidate the ameliorating role of M. oleifera.

RESULTS:

Single oral administration of 15 mg/kg of DMBA resulted in significant increases in Cyt P450 and Cyt b5 (P<0.01). The toxic effect of DMBA was justified by the significant decreases in the activities of GSH and GST in renal tissues (P<0.05). The levels of renal AST, ALT and ALP and protein content which are indicative of renocellular damage were also found decreased along with significant increase in total cholesterol content in DMBA-treated mice (P<0.01). The DMBA-induced alterations in the tissues were significantly reversed after pretreatment with 200 and 400 mg/kg of MOHE orally for 14 d (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION:

The effects of MOHE in enhancing the levels of antioxidants and enhancing the levels of biochemical assays in DMBA-induced carcinogenesis are by reducing the formation of free radicals. This study rationalizes the ethnomedicinal use of M. oleifera for the protection against nephrotoxicity induced by chemical carcinogens.

Pre and post-implantation changes in the uteus of rats: response to moringa oleifera lam. Extract.

Prakash AO1, Pathak S, Shukla S, Mathur R.

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Abstract

Aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. (root) has been studies on pre and post-implementation stages of the uterus of rats so as to elucidate its antifertility mode of action. Results on the biochemical estimation in the uterus of control pregnant rats at different stages of pregnancy revealed a successive increase in the total proteins, glycogen content and the activity or acid and alkaline phosphatase from day 2 to 5 post-coitum. When aqueous extract of M. oleifera Lam. Was administered, there was a significant reduction in all these biochemical constituents when compared to their respective control groups. The role of these biochemical transformations has been discussed in relation to anti-implantation action of the extract.

Chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oil from leaves of Moringa oleiferaLam. cultivated in Mozambique.

Marrufo T1, Nazzaro F, Mancini E, Fratianni F, Coppola R, De Martino L, Agostinho AB, De Feo V.

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Abstract

The antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) grown in Mozambique was investigated. The chemical composition was studied by means of GC and GC-MS analysis. Hexacosane (13.9%), pentacosane (13.3%) and heptacosane (11.4%) were the main components. Ultra High Performance Chromatography-DAD analysis detected the flavonoids quercetin (126 μg/g) and luteolin (6.2 μg/g). The essential oil exhibited a relatively low free radical scavenging capacity. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil was assayed against two Gram-positive strains (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus), two Gram-negative strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and five fungal strains of agro-food interest (Penicillium aurantiogriseum, Penicillium expansum, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium digitatum, and Aspergillus niger spp.). B. cereus and P. aeruginosa, as well as the fungal strains were sensitive to the essential oil.

Cerebroprotective effect of Moringa oleifera against focal ischemic stroke induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Kirisattayakul W1, Wattanathorn J2, Tong-Un T2, Muchimapura S2, Wannanon P2, Jittiwat J3.

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Abstract

The protection against ischemic stroke is still required due to the limitation of therapeutic efficacy. Based on the role of oxidative stress in stroke pathophysiology, we determined whether Moringa oleifera, a plant possessing potent antioxidant activity, protected against brain damage and oxidative stress in animal model of focal stroke. M. oleifera leaves extract at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg·kg(-1) was orally given to male Wistar rats (300-350 g) once daily at a period of 2 weeks before the occlusion of right middle cerebral artery (Rt.MCAO) and 3 weeks after Rt.MCAO. The determinations of neurological score and temperature sensation were performed every 7 days throughout the study period, while the determinations of brain infarction volume, MDA level, and the activities of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px were performed 24 hr after Rt.MCAO. The results showed that all doses of extract decreased infarction volume in both cortex and subcortex. The protective effect of medium and low doses of extract in all areas occurred mainly via the decreased oxidative stress. The protective effect of the high dose extract in striatum and hippocampus occurred via the same mechanism, whereas other mechanisms might play a crucial role in cortex. The detailed mechanism required further exploration.