Natural Products Chemistry

Search for Metabolites from Plant Source

Assignment/Quiz

Name: Castro, Rose Kemberly E.

Plant Source: Malunggay

Scientific name: Moringa Oleifera

Local name: Kalamunggay
Common name: Malunggay
Family: Moringaceae
Order: Brassicales
Kingdom: Plantae
Other names: moringa,
drumstick tree,
horseradish tree,
ben oil tree or benzolive tree
 I. Introduction
Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree of a family
Moringaceae, native to the Indian subcontinent. Common names include moringa,
drumstick tree, horseradish tree, and ben oil tree or benzolive tree.
Moringa Oleifera is a plant that grows in tropical climates such as the Philippines,
India, and Africa. Malunggay is widely used as a vegetable ingredient in cooking, as
herbal medicine for several illnesses, and other practical uses. The malunggay plant can
grow to as high as 9 meters with erect white trunks.
Moringa Oleifera is also commonly referred to as moringa leaves or drumstick tree
because of its long and slender tree. The health benefits of malunggay are well known
not just in Asia and Africa but also in other countries across the globe. True enough,
this would not be called as the ‘Miracle Tree’ for no reason at all, right? All parts of
the moringa tree such as the leaves, pods, flowers, fruits, barks, and roots can be
used.
Moringa Oleifera is a small or medium-sized tree, about 10 m high, cultivated
throughout India. It is a multipurpose tree, used as vegetable, spice, a source of cooking
and cosmetic oil and as a medicinal plant. It is reported to contain alkaloids, flavonoids,
anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins and cinnamates. It possesses anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, antimicrobial, antihyperlipidaemic, antifertility, anticancer, antihepatotoxic
and antiulcer activities. Further, activity guided phytochemical and phytoanalytical studies
may lead to development of novel agents to be used in various disorders. (Goyal et al.,
2007).
 Moringa leaves contain protein, β-carotene, vitamins A, B, C and E, minerals, steroids,
alkaloids, quercetin and kaempferol. Several studies have proven that moringa leaves
have several functions as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-atherosclerotis, anti-inflammatory,
antitumor, to regulate thyroid status, improve growth performance in broiler chickens,
improve the immune system (Chumark et al., 2008; Iqbal & Bhanger 2006; Nkukwana et
al., 2014; Verma et al., 2009; Rao et al., 2001; Sreelatha et al., 2011). Moringa leaves
and fruits have high nutrients contents and advantageous for health, it is not only used
for human food but also for animal feed. In order not to compete with human being, some
parts of moringa plant can be used as animal feed such as stem and middle to old leaf.
Thus, the objectives of this study are to evaluate antioxidant activity in moringa leaves
and moringa stem that can be used for animal’s feed.
The seeds of malunggay, Moringa oleifera were extracted with distilled ethanol and
concentrated under reduced pressure at 40 deg C. The resulting extract was partitioned
between hexane, ethylacetate, butanol and water. The solvent fractions were likewise
concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude ethanol extract of dried seeds inhibited
the carrageenan-induced inflammation in the hind paw of mice by 85 percent at a dosage
of 3 mg/g body weight while the mature green seeds by 77 percent. The hexane fraction
of the crude ethanol extract of the dried seeds also inhibited inflammation by 77 percent
at the same dosage while both butanol and water fractions inhibited inflammation by only
34 percent. These results indicate the strong anti-inflammatory activities of the crude
ethanol extract and the hexane fraction. On the other hand, the ethylacetate fraction
caused a 267 percent increase in inflammation and exhibited toxicity. The mice died after
oral administration of the fraction. The crude ethanol extract also inhibited the formation
of Epstein-Barr virus-early antigen (EBV-EA) induced by 12-0 tetradecanoylphorbol-13-
acetate (TPA). At a dosage of 100 (ug/ml) the extract inhibited EBV-EA formation by 100
percent suggesting its antitumor-promoting activity. (Guevara et al., 1996).
Moringa is an important food source in some parts of the world. Because it can be
grown cheaply and easily, and the leaves retain lots of vitamins and minerals when dried,
moringa is used in India and Africa in feeding programs to fight malnutrition. The immature
green pods (drumsticks) are prepared similarly to green beans, while the seeds are
removed from more mature pods and cooked like peas or roasted like nuts. The leaves
are cooked and used like spinach, and they are also dried and powdered for use as a
condiment.
(History) The malunggay tree is native to a range near the Himalayan mountains and
is found growing wild in the Middle East as well as Africa. The malunggay tree prefers
tropical, sub-tropical or semi-arid environments to thrive.

II. Metabolites in the Plant

Metabolite or Primary or Part of the Chemical Therapeutic Bioassays

its Secondary Plant Structure Potential (e.g. (e.g. MTT
phytochemical Metabolite (roots, leaves, (if there’s antimalarial, assay,
group (e.g. stem, fruit, etc.) any) antipyretic, DPPH
sterol, anticancer, antiradical
alkaloid, etc.) assay,
aromatics, etc.)
lipid,
etc.)
Alkaloids Secondary Bark NO Anticancer DPPH
Chemical
Structure
Saponins Secondary Pods Antioxidant Antiglycati
-on
Tannins Secondary Leaves Anti- MTT
inflammation
Steroids Secondary Nuts Antimicrobial
Phenolic acids Secondary Seeds Antifertility
Glucosinolates Secondary Tubers Antihyperlipid-
aemic
Flavonoids Secondary Roots Antihepatotoxic
Terpenes Secondary Flowers Antiulcer
 III. References

Guevara, A. P., Vargas, C., & Uy, M. (1996). Anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities of
seed extracts of malunggay, Moringa oleifera L. (Moringaceae). Philippine Journal of
Science (Philippines).

Goyal, B. R., Agrawal, B. B., Goyal, R. K., & Mehta, A. A. (2007). Phyto-pharmacology of
Moringa oleifera Lam.—an overview.

Chumark, P., Khunawat, P., Sanvarinda, Y., Phornchirasilp, S., Morales, N. P.,
Phivthong-Ngam, L., ... & Klai-upsorn, S. P. (2008). The in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant
properties, hypolipidaemic and antiatherosclerotic activities of water extract of Moringa
oleifera Lam. leaves. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 116(3), 439-446.

Iqbal, S., & Bhanger, M. I. (2006). Effect of season and production location on antioxidant
activity of Moringa oleifera leaves grown in Pakistan. Journal of food Composition and
Analysis, 19(6-7), 544-551.