Effect of malunggay (Moringa oleifera) capsules on lipid and glucose levels

Mark Anthony S Sandoval, Cecilia A Jimeno

Acta Med Philippina 47 (3), 22-27, 2013
Moringa oleifera Lam., locally known as “malunggay,” is widely consumed as a vegetable in the
Philippines. The leaves are usually added in common viands, and the fruits or pods are eaten as
a vegetable dish. It is known as horse radish tree or drumstick tree in other English-speaking
countries.
There are popular but yet unproven claims that malunggay is used for the treatment of high
cholesterol and diabetes mellitus. There are, however, several animal studies that have shown
positive effects. Mehta et al. In 2003 have shown that the administration for 120 days of M.
Oleifera fruit, like lovastatin, was able to lower the serum cholesterol, phospholipids,
triglyceride, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol ratio
and atherogenic index, and was able to increase the high density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio
compared to the corresponding control groups in rabbits. One proposed mechanism of action is
that M. Oleifera promotes gastrointestinal excretion of cholesterol as M. Oleifera-treated
rabbits had higher levels of cholesterol in their feces.

Sharrah Maye Castro, Conie Delos Reyes, Mariel Kimberly, Samaicca Claire Etang Dimaano,
Eriqua Miejaela Talucod, Laura Melissa Madonna Torres, Judilynn Solidum, Rose Anne Chua

Food and Public Health 4 (4), 200-203, 2014

Abstract Background: Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) was considered a promising

functional food because of the many nutrients, minerals and vitamins present in its
leaves, seeds and bark. Objective: To determine the changes in glucose, lipid
profile and antioxidant capacity in humans with moderately raised serum glucose
and cholesterol levels after consumption of malunggay leaves supplemented-food
products. Materials and Methods: Test foods are buns, fish sausage and veggie
soup with and without malunggay leaves powder. Thirty-eight participants were
randomly grouped into control and experimental, given foods without and with
malunggay. The total amount of dietary fiber containing malunggay leaves powder
was 14.4 g while without malunggay was 9.3 g. Results: Serum blood glucose from
baseline to endline for the control group was still considered moderately raised (6.2
to 5.6 mmol/L) while in the experimental group resulted from moderately raised (5.8
mmol/L) to normal serum glucose (5.0 mmol/L; P< 0.05). Hemoglobin A1C
measurements were within the normal limits for both groups. A decreasing trend in
TC and LDL-C, and an increasing trend in HDL-C and antioxidant capacity were
observed in the experimental group. Conclusion: Malunggay leaves supplemented-
food products decreased fasting blood sugar and may have a promising effect for
cholesterol-lowering.