Moringa oleifera, Tree of Life, Miracle Tree, unique bioactive compounds, flavonoids, isothiocyanates, moringin

1. FOOD AS MEDICINE:
MORINGA,
THE MIRACLE TREE
By
Kevin KF Ng, MD, PhD
Former Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Clinical Pharmacology
University of Miami, Miami, FL., USA
Email: kevinng68@gmail.com
A slide presentation for HealthCare Webinar April 2021

2. Outline of Presentation
▪ Why is moringa called a miracle tree
▪ Global distribution of moringa tree
▪ Nutrient composition of moringa tree
▪ Bioactive compounds in moringa tree
▪ Scientific studies in cells, animals and human
▪ Uses of moringa
▪ Safety issues
▪ Commercial products & recipes
▪ Summary

3. Why is moringa called a miracle tree?
▪ Food for man and animals
▪ More nutrients than other foods
▪ Unique bioactive compounds
▪ Use in Traditional medicine
▪ Health Benefits
▪ Environmental uses
▪ The next superfood
© Dr Kevin KF Ng

4. HISTORY
ORIGIN OF MORINGA TREE
DISTRIBUTION
TAXONOMIC CLASSIFICATION

5. History of moringa tree
▪ Moringa tree is the ancient and Biblical “Tree of Life”
described in the Book of Exodus 15:20-25.
▪ Its seeds are still used around the world to purify
water as Moses did at Mt. Sinai..
▪ Moringa oleifera is native to northern India but is now
widely cultivated across the tropics.
▪ Moringa oleifera is sometimes called a “Miracle Tree”
because all its parts can be used for nutritional and
medicinal properties.
© Dr Kevin KF Ng

6. Ratio of nutrients in moringa leaves (M) and other foods (2016)
Adapted from J Earth Sci Clim Change 7:366. doi:10.4172/2157-7617.1000366

7. Topographical distribution of Moringa oleifera.
https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/34868

8. Scientific classification of Moringa tree
https://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=display&classid=MOOL
(About 33 species)

9. Other vernacular names of Moringa Tree
▪ Drumstick tree
▪ Miracle tree
▪ Ben oil tree
▪ Horseradish tree
© Dr Kevin KF Ng

10. NUTRIENTS
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

11. The nutrient compositions of Moringa
leaves, leaf powder, seeds and pods. (2016)
All values are in 100 g per plant material
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213453016300362#fig0010

12. Phytochemicals in moringa leaves
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4490473/

13. Composition of moringa seed oil per 100g
Adapted from https://www.botanical-online.com/en/food/moringa-oil-composition

14. Composition of moringa seed oil per 100g
Adapted from https://www.botanical-online.com/en/food/moringa-oil-composition

15. Number of articles on “moringa oleifera” in PubMed from
1946 to 2020
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=moringa+oleofera

16. PHARMACOLOGY

17. Scientific studies on moringa oleifera
▪ Antimicrobial
▪ Antioxidant
▪ Anti-inflammatory
▪ Analgesic
▪ Immuno-modulatory
▪ Anticancer
▪ Antidiabetic
▪ Anti-obesity
▪ Antifertility
© Dr Kevin KF Ng

18. Effect of ethanolic extract of M. oleifera on
(A) final body weight, and
(B) atherogenic index (AI) and cardiac risk index (CRI).
On obese rats (2017)
Sim=simvastatin
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2221169116305238
Anti-obesity

19. Effect of ethanolic M. oleifera extract on leptin (A), resistin (B) and
adiponectin (C) mRNA expression
in adipose tissue of female obese rats. (2017)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2221169116305238
leptin
resistin
adiponectin
Anti-obesity

20. Effect of MEML on (A) body weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency
ratio, (B) serum lipid profiles, and (C) cardiac marker enzymes
in obese rats. (2020)
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2020/6583603/tab5/
Moringa oleifera leaves (MEML)
mg/kg/bw
obesity
A
B
C

21. Effect of ethanolic extract of M. oleifera on serum glucose, and
insulin and HOMA-IR of female obese rats. (2017)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2221169116305238
Anti-diabetes

22. Anti-cancer research involving Moringa
▪ All cancer research involving moringa has been conducted on
mice or on cancer cells grown in labs, but not in humans.
▪ Cell lines:
▪ Ovarian cancer cells
▪ Lung cancer cells
▪ Pancreatic cancer cells
▪ Liver cancer cells
▪ Colon cancer cells
▪ Leukemia cells
https://www.asbestos.com/blog/2019/11/26/moringa-tree-cancer-research/
Anti-cancer

23. MORINGIN
Anti-inflammatory moringin
Analgesic effect of moringa oleifera
Activation of TRPA1 ion channel and its effects

24. What is moringin?
▪ Moringin is a stable Isothiocyanate from Moringa
▪ Moringin is one of the most potent natural agonists of TRPA1 in vitro, with a potency
very close to that of curcumin (EC50 = 3.3 μM).
▪ The selective TRPA1 channel antagonist AP18 (4-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methyl-3-buten-
2-one oxime) inhibited moringin and AITC-induced effects in TRPA1-HEK293 cells.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7070407/

25. Pharmacological actions of Moringin
▪Anti-inflammatory
▪Pain modulation
▪Anticancer
© Dr Kevin KF Ng

26. Anti-inflammatory effects of moringa isothiocyanate (MC) on
LPS-induced iNOS, IL-1β IL-6 and TNFα gene expression
in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. (2014)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4071966/
Effect of moringa concentrate on iNOS and IL-1β
Effect of moringa isothiocyanate on iNOS and IL-1β
Effect of moringa concentrate on IL-6 and TNFα
Effect of moringa isothiocyanate on IL-6 and TNFα.

27. Anti-inflammatory activity of glucomoringin isothiocyanate (GMG-ITC)
in a mouse model of (EAE) experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. (2014)
Glucomoringin (4(α-L-rhamnosyloxy)-benzyl glucosinolate) (GMG)
isothiocyanate (4(α-L-rhamnosyloxy)-benzyl isothiocyanate) (GMG-ITC),
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0367326X14000811?via%3Dihub

28. Mode of anti-inflammatory action of moringa oleifera (2018)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29534518/

29. Analgesic effects of methanolic extracts of the leaf or root of Moringa
oleifera on complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats (2011)
▪ Objective: Moringa oleifera (family Moringaceae) has been widely used in African folk medicine, and
researchers have recently revealed its anti-inflammatory effects in human. This study aimed to evaluate
the analgesic properties of methanolic extracts of M. oleifera in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-
induced arthritis in rats.
▪ Methods: Adult male Wistar rats, weighing 200 to 220 g, were used in this study. Adjuvant arthritis was
induced on day 0 by a single subcutaneous injection of CFA. The prepared extracts from both the root
and leaf (200, 300 and 400 mg/kg) of M. oleifera were administered intraperitonealy to rats in the
treatment groups 0, 3 and 6 d after CFA injection and indomethacin (5 mg/kg) was used as a positive
control drug. Thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia were evaluated for the analgesic effect 0, 3
and 6 d after CFA injection. Combined methanolic root and leaf extracts of M. oleifera (200 mg/kg) were
also tested for the analgesic effect.
▪ Results: The potency of the root or leaf extracts of M. oleifera (300 and 400 mg/kg) was similar to that of
indomethacin, resulted in significant reductions in both thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia in
rats with CFA-induced arthritis compared with the control group after 3 and 6 d, respectively (P<0.01 or
P<0.05). Combined root and leaf extracts (200 mg/kg) of M. oleifera resulted in a significant reduction in
thermal hyperalgesia compared with the control group after 3 and 6 d, respectively (P<0.01). Prophylactic
injections of combined root and leaf extracts of M. oleifera (200 mg/kg) resulted in a significant
reduction in thermal hyperalgesia compared with the control group, the root extracts group, and the leaf
extracts group after 3 and 6 d, respectively (P<0.01).
▪ Conclusion: The methanolic extracts of the root or leaf of M. oleifera are effective in the reduction of
pain induced by CFA in rats. A comparison of single and combination therapies of root and leaf extracts
also showed a synergistic effect on pain reduction.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21288459/

30. EFFECTS OF MORINGIN ON TRPA1 ION CHANNEL

31. Conversion of glucomoringin to moringin via
myrosinase hydrolysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31323988/

32. Effect of temperature on stability and
anti-inflammatory action of myrosinase
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31323988/

33. Moringin, A Stable Isothiocyanate from Moringa oleifera,
Activates the Somatosensory and Pain Receptor TRPA1 Channel In Vitro (2020)
Dose-related effect of moringin and allylisothiocyanate (AITC) on elevation of intracellular Ca2+
in human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells stably transfected with rat TRPA1 (rTRPA1-HEK-293).
AP18 = 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methyl-3-buten-2-one oxime. Data are expressed as percentages of
the effect observed with AITC 100 µM.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7070407/
TRPA1 antagonist

34. Dose-response curves to evaluate the desensitizing behavior of
moringin, a well-known effect for TRPA1 agonists (2020)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7070407/
(Allylisothiocyanate)
Moringin has a very strong desensitizing effect which is typical of TRP
channels, the effect of AITC 100 μM administered after a pre-incubation
of TRPA1-HEK293 cells with moringin 50 μM, is completely inhibited.

35. Comparison between in vitro rTRPA1′s activity of many natural known agonists.
Potency is expressed as 1/EC50; EC50 values are given in μM units.
Moringin from Moringa oleifera is shown in black.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7070407/
spice

36. Beneficial effects of TRPV1 and TRPA1 agonist administration
in obese and/or diabetic conditions. (2016)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4808497/ https://www.future-science.com/doi/full/10.4155/ppa.14.60
TRPA1 ion channel

37. Topical moringin cream relieves neuropathic pain by suppression of inflammatory pathway
and voltage-gated ion channels in murine model of multiple sclerosis (2017)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5555508/
experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE),

38. CLINICAL TRIALS USING MORINGA ARE RARE,
BUT ITS MEDICAL USES HAVE BEEN REPORTED

39. Medicinal uses of Moringa oleifera
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6261394/

40. Moringa oleifera as a Galactagogue (2014):
breastmilk volume (measured in mL) collected on Day 7.9
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Peter-Francis-
Raguindin/publication/262917155_Moringa_oleifera_as_a_Galactagogue/links/5591
287b08ae47a3490f052f/Moringa-oleifera-as-a-Galactagogue.pdf
#1

41. Maternal serum prolactin levels (in x102 mIU/L) taken at
4 months. (2014)
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Peter-Francis-Raguindin/publication/262917155_Moringa_oleifera_as_a
_Galactagogue/links/5591287b08ae47a3490f052f/Moringa-oleifera-as-a-Galactagogue.pdf
#2

42. SIDE EFFECTS
INTERACTIONS
DOSE
SUMMARY

43. Side effects
▪ While the leaves are perfectly safe, consuming large quantities
of the bark or pulp may cause the following side effects:
▪ Lower blood pressure and slow heart rate because of the alkaloids in the
plant
▪ Uterine contractions from moringa bark
▪ Cell mutations caused by a chemical isolated from roasted moringa
seeds
▪ Interference with fertility
https://www.asbestos.com/blog/2019/11/26/moringa-tree-cancer-research/

44. Special Precautions & Warnings
▪ Pregnancy: It's POSSIBLY UNSAFE to use the root, bark, or flowers of moringa if you
are pregnant. Chemicals in the root, bark, and flowers might make the uterus
contract. In traditional medicine the root and bark were used to cause miscarriages.
▪ Breast-feeding: Moringa is sometimes used to increase breast milk production. It
seems to be safe for the mother when taken for several days. But there isn't enough
information to know if it is safe for the nursing infant.
▪ Children: Moringa leaf is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth, short-term. Moringa
leaf has been used with apparent safety in children for up to 2 months.
https://www.rxlist.com/moringa/supplements.htm

45. Interactions with medications
▪ LevothyroxineInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk
with your health provider.
▪ Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)
Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination
▪ Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be
cautious with this combination
▪ Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) Interaction Rating:
Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
https://www.rxlist.com/moringa/supplements.htm

46. Dose consideration
▪ The appropriate dose of moringa depends on several factors such as the user's age,
health, and several other conditions.
▪ At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate
range of doses for moringa
▪ However, the consumption of Moringa oleifera leaves should not exceed a maximum
of 70 grams per day to prevent cumulative toxicity of these essential elements over
long periods.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4129914/

47. MORINGA PRODUCTS
RECIPES
SUMMARY

48. Use of moringa leaves
▪ Moringa leaves can be
▪ eaten fresh,
▪ cooked or crushed, and they
▪ can be stored as dried powder for several months without loss
of nutritional value.
▪ Moringa leaves can be
▪ blended into fruit smoothies or
▪ used as a replacement for spinach..
▪ Dried moringa powder may be added to a curry recipe and
served over rice.
https://www.asbestos.com/blog/2019/11/26/moringa-tree-cancer-research/

49. Commercial products of Moringa leaves and seeds
Fresh leaves Leaf powder Capsules Seed oil Smoothie
© Dr Kevin KF Ng

50. Moringa Recipes
© Dr Kevin KF Ng

51. Summary
▪ Moringa is called a miracle tree because every part of the
tree can be used as food or medicine.
▪ It is rich in nutrients and bioactive phytochemicals.
▪ Flavonoids, phenolic acids and isothiocyanates have been
shown to have properties that are beneficial for health.
▪ Moringin, the derivative of glucomoringin, is now actively
investigated for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-obesity,
anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic and anticancer potential.
▪ The nutrient composition and phytochemical benefits qualify
moringa as a super food.
© Dr Kevin KF Ng