Pharmacological Screening of Moringa Oleifera : In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory and Antimicrobial Activities

Authors

Mohan Eswar Raju Thotakura

Students, B. Pharmacy, Sri Vasavi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pedatadepalli, Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh (India)

Yasaswini Yedlapalli

Students, B. Pharmacy, Sri Vasavi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pedatadepalli, Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh (India)

Vinay Sai Vella

Students, B. Pharmacy, Sri Vasavi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pedatadepalli, Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh (India)

Dr. Dhabal Kumar Satapathy

Associate Professor, Department of pharmacology, Sri Vasavi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pedatadepalli, Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh (India)

Dr. Srinivasu Matta

Professor and HOD, Department of pharmacology, Sri Vasavi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pedatadepalli, Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh (India)

Dr. Bhaskara Raju Vatchavai

Professor & Principal, Sri Vasavi Institute of Pharmaceutical sciences, Pedatadepalli, Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh (India)

Article Information

DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI.2026.1304000243

Subject Category: Pharmacology

Volume/Issue: 13/4 | Page No: 2848-2865

Publication Timeline

Submitted: 2026-04-22

Accepted: 2026-04-28

Published: 2026-05-19

Abstract

In Ayurveda, the traditional medicinal plant Moringa Oleifera—also known as horse radish tree is highly regarded for its healing qualities. This study aims to evaluate moringa oleifera extracts' antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities in vitro. The anti-inflammatory potential was assessed using the membrane stabilizing and protein denaturation methods. The antibacterial effectiveness against particular strains of bacteria and fungus was examined using the agar well diffusion method. Initial phytochemical testing revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolics, and terpenoids; these substances might be in charge of the biological activities found. The extracts demonstrated significant antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner. The organism's significant anti-inflammatory qualities supported its traditional use in treating inflammatory illnesses. Additionally, the extracts demonstrated strong antifungal and antibacterial activity towards common strains of fungus and both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Since it is used to boost a woman's milk production and is occasionally recommended for anemia, it is referred to as "mother's best friend" in the Philippines. Examining the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities of several Moringa oleifera leaf extracts in vitro was the aim of the present one study.

Keywords

Anti-bacterial, Anti-inflammatory, Phenolic compounds

Downloads

References

1. Moringa oleifera Lam. (2001). The Miracle Tree: The Multiple Attributes of Moringa. CTA Publications, Wageningen, Netherlands. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Lowell J. Fuglie (1999). The Miracle Tree: Moringa oleifera: Natural Nutrition for the Tropics. Church World Service, Dakar. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Fahey JW (2005). “Moringa oleifera: A review of the medical evidence for its nutritional, therapeutic, and prophylactic properties.” Trees for Life Journal, 1(5). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Anwar F, Latif S (2007). “Moringa oleifera: A food plant with multiple medicinal uses.” Phytotherapy Research, 21(1), 17–25. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Leone A et al. (2015). “Cultivation, genetic, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Moringa oleifera.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 16(6), 12791–12835. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Mbikay M (2012). “Therapeutic potential of Moringa oleifera leaves in chronic hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, 3, 24. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Siddhuraju P, Becker K (2003). “Antioxidant properties of various solvent extracts of Moringa oleifera leaves.” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 51(8), 2144–2155. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Gopalakrishnan L et al. (2016). “Moringa oleifera: A review on nutritive importance and its medicinal application.” Food Science and Human Wellness, 5(2), 49–56. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Kokate CK, Purohit AP, Gokhale SB. Pharmacognosy. 49th ed. Pune: Nirali Prakashan; 2010. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. World Health Organization. Quality control methods for medicinal plant materials. Geneva: WHO; 1998. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Anwar F, Latif S, Ashraf M, Gilani AH. Moringa oleifera: a food plant with multiple medicinal uses. Phytother Res. 2007;21(1):17–25. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Harborne JB. Phytochemical methods: a guide to modern techniques of plant analysis. 3rd ed. London: Chapman & Hall; 1998. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Rostagno MA, Prado JM. Natural product extraction: principles and applications. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Kumar NA et al. (2010). “Anti-inflammatory activity of Moringa oleifera.” Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 2(12), 789–792. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Ezeamuzie IC et al. (1996). “Anti-inflammatory effects of Moringa oleifera root extract.” International Journal of Pharmacognosy, 34(3), 207–212. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Sharma, S. (2026). Phytochemical Constituents and Therapeutic Potential of Indian Medicinal Plants: A Comprehensive Review. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Gopalakrishnan, L., Doriya, K., & Kumar, D. S. (2016). Moringa oleifera: A review on nutritive importance and its medicinal application. Food science and human wellness, 5(2), 49-56. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Moyo, B., Masika, P. J., Hugo, A., & Muchenje, V. (2011). Nutritional characterization of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves. African journal of biotechnology, 10(60), 12925-12933. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Kaurinovic, B., & Vastag, D. (2019). Flavonoids and phenolic acids as potential natural antioxidants. Antioxidants, 2(1), 1-14. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Al Hoque, A., Begum, S., & Dutta, D. (2025). Occurrence, Chemical Nature, and Medicinal Benefits of Flavonoids-Rutin, Kaempferol, Quercetin, Anthocyanidins, Catechins, and Flavones. In Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals (pp. 1-24). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Guven, L., Iddrisu, A. K., & Dogan, E. An Overview Of Fixed Oils Of Plant Origin Used For Medical Purposes. Bioactive Components And Biochemical Properties In Foods, 99. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Sumara, A., Stachniuk, A., Montowska, M., Kotecka-Majchrzak, K., Grywalska, E., Mitura, P., ... & Fornal, E. (2023). Comprehensive review of seven plant seed oils: chemical composition, nutritional properties, and biomedical functions. Food Reviews International, 39(8), 5402-5422. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Almatrafi, M. (2017). The Effects of Moringa Leaves on Hepatic Lipid Accumulation and Inflammation in a Guinea Pig Model of Hepatic Steatosis. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. De Rossi, L., Rocchetti, G., Lucini, L., & Rebecchi, A. (2025). Antimicrobial potential of polyphenols: Mechanisms of action and microbial responses—A narrative review. Antioxidants, 14(2), 200. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Lou, Z., Cheng, X., Dong, J., Dai, W., Chen, X., & Wang, H. (2025). The antibacterial mechanism and cell damage mechanism of natural antibacterial agents from different sources and their applications in food. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization, 1-25. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Ibrahim, N. A., Rathore, D., Janiyani, K., Gupta, A., Sulieman, A. M. E., Tahir, H. E., ... & Surti, M. (2025). A comprehensive review on plant-derived bioactive saponins as promising antimicrobial agents: from bioavailability challenges, molecular mechanistic insights to therapeutic applications. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 1-31. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Seregina, T. A., Lobanov, K. V., Shakulov, R. S., & Mironov, A. S. (2022). Enhancement of the bactericidal effect of antibiotics by inhibition of enzymes involved in production of hydrogen sulfide in bacteria. Molecular Biology, 56(5), 638-648. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Ahmed, K. B. A., Raman, T., & Veerappan, A. (2016). Future prospects of antibacterial metal nanoparticles as enzyme inhibitor. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 68, 939-947. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Budzowska, M., & Kanaar, R. (2009). Mechanisms of dealing with DNA damage-induced replication problems. Cell biochemistry and biophysics, 53(1), 17-31. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Bailly, C. (2012). Contemporary challenges in the design of topoisomerase II inhibitors for cancer chemotherapy. Chemical reviews, 112(7), 3611-3640. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Nitiss, J. L., & Wang, J. C. (1996). Mechanisms of cell killing by drugs that trap covalent complexes between DNA topoisomerases and DNA. Molecular pharmacology, 50(5), 1095-1102. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

Metrics

Views & Downloads

Similar Articles