Coagulant and antibacterial activities of the water-soluble seed lectin from Moringa oleifera

Aims: The aim of this work was to analyse the coagulant and antibacterial activities of lectin isolated from Moringa oleifera seeds that are used for water treatment. Methods and Results: The water‐soluble M. oleifera lectin (WSMoL) was separated from nonhemagglutinating components (NHC) by chitin chromatography. WSMoL fluorescence spectrum was not altered in the presence of ions that are often present in high concentrations in polluted waters. Seed extract, NHC and WSMoL showed coagulant activity on a turbid water model. Both NHC and WSMoL reduced the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, but only WSMoL caused a reduction in Escherichia coli. WSMoL was also more effective in reducing the growth of ambient lake water bacteria. Conclusions: Data obtained from this study indicate that WSMoL is a potential natural biocoagulant for water, reducing turbidity, suspended solids and bacteria. Significance and Impact of the Study: Moringa oleifera seeds are a material effective in the treatment of water.     

Efficacy of some plants powder and extract in the management of Angoumois grain moth,Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) [Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae] infesting stored wheat grains

Powders and extracts prepared from part and products of four plants species indigenous to Nigeria were tested under laboratory condition at 28?±?2?°C and 75?±?5% relative humidity for their insecticidal potential against Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella. Adult S. cerealella were exposed to three concentrations at rate 0.5, 1 and 2?g of Capsicum frutescens, Cymbopogon citratus, Moringa oleifera and Anacardium occidentale powders and extracts at the rate of 1, 2 and 3%/20?g of wheat grains. Parameters evaluated were adult moth mortality, adult emergence and % hatchability in treated wheat grains after infestation. Results show that significant differences (p?<?0.05) existed among the powders and the concentrations. The powder of C. frutescens had the highest mortality rate of 100% after two?days of application at all tested concentrations. There were no adult emergence of moth in samples treated with C. frutescens and A. occidentale powders. The extracts completely killed all the adult moths introduced at all tested concentrations. The survival of the moth from egg to adult when treated with the plant powders showed that there was significantly (p?<?0.05) more adult in the control (71.3) compared to others. Extracts of all the tested plants were toxic to adult moth and also prevent hatching of the eggs of S. cerealella.     

Effect of Moringa oleifera flower extract on larval trypsin and acetylcholinesterase activities in Aedes aegypti

Aedes aegypti control is crucial to reducing dengue fever. Aedes aegypti larvae have developed resistance to organophosporous insecticides and the use of natural larvicides may help manage larval resistance by increasing elements in insecticide rotation programs. Here, we report on larvicidal activity of Moringa oleifera flower extract against A. aegypti L(1), L(2), L(3), and L(4) as well as the effect of flower extract on gut trypsin and whole-larval acetylcholinesterase from L(4.) In addition, the heated flower extract was investigated for larvicidal activity against L(4) and effect on larval gut trypsin. Moringa oleifera flower extract contains a proteinaceous trypsin inhibitor (M. oleifera flower trypsin inhibitor, MoFTI), triterpene (β-amyrin), sterol (β-sitosterol) as well as flavonoids (kaempferol and quercetin). Larvicidal activity was detected against L(2), L(3), and L(4) (LC(50) of 1.72%, 1.67%, and 0.92%, respectively). Flower extract inhibited L(4) gut trypsin (MoFTI K(i) = 0.6 nM) and did not affect acetylcholinesterase activity. In vivo assay showed that gut trypsin activity from L(4) treated with M. oleifera flower extract decreased over time (0-1,440 min) and was strongly inhibited (98.6%) after 310 min incubation; acetylcholinesterase activity was not affected. Thermal treatment resulted in a loss of trypsin inhibitor and larvicidal activities, supporting the hypothesis that flower extract contains a proteinaceous trypsin inhibitor that may be responsible for the deleterious effects on larval mortality.     

Unique antioxidant effects of herbal leaf tea and stem tea from Moringa oleifera L. especially on superoxide anion radical generation systems

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate the unique antioxidative effects of Japanese moringa products, herbal leaf tea and stem tea, using established free radical assays, focusing on superoxide anion (O₂^?) radical generation systems. Hot-water extracts from moringa teas resulted in different but lower scavenging activities than Trolox in four synthetic free radical models. Interestingly, these extracts further showed higher O₂^? radical scavenging effects than Trolox in the phenazine methosulfate-NADH-nitroblue tetrazolium and xanthine oxidase assay systems. Incubating human neutrophils in the presence of these tea extracts rather than Trolox effectively suppressed cellular O₂^? radical generation. Among the eight known phenolic constituents of moringa leaves, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid may be responsible for the O₂^–specific radical scavenging capacity stronger than that of Trolox. These results suggest that moringa herbal teas are a good source of natural antioxidants for preventing O₂^? radical-mediated disorders.

Abbreviations: O₂^?: superoxide anion; ROS: reactive oxygen species; H₂O₂: hydrogen peroxide; XOD: xanthine oxidase; DPPH: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; ABTS⁺: 2,2′-azinobis(2-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) cation; CPZ⁺: chlorpromazine cation; PMS: phenazine methosulfate; NBT: nitroblue tetrazolium; PMA: phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate     

Circadian phase modulates the enhancing effect of the Egyptian Moringa peregrina extract on learning and memory in mice

One of the most important issues nowadays is memory disorders. The exact circadian modulation of learning and memory is still under investigation. The present study was carried out to evaluate the probable enhancing and neuroprotective effects of the Egyptian Moringa peregrina; administered at two different Zeitgeber times (ZT), on learning and memory in mice. M. peregrina dried leaves were aqueously extracted and intranasally (IN) administered at four doses (viz. 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg). Twenty animal groups (n = 8/group) were treated with M. peregrina at ZT 3:00 vs. 15:00 representing the rest (day) vs. active (night) phases, respectively. Additionally, sub-chronic effect of daily IN administration of the 25 mg/kg dose for two weeks was examined at ZT 3:00 vs. 15:00. Memory performance was assessed after 1, 2 weeks of treatment and a 3rd recovery week. Memory test was performed at ZT 17:00 by measuring the percentage of time spent in novel arm of Y-maze. Dose-response curve revealed that both 25 and 50 mg/kg doses administered at ZT 3:00 significantly improved memory efficiency. Rest phase administration significantly enhanced memory functions after 1, 2 weeks as well as after the recovery week. Moreover, IN pretreatment with M. peregrina (25 mg/kg) revealed a protective effect against scopolamine-induced amnesia. In conclusion, these findings clearly indicated that M. peregrina possesses valuable enhancing and protective effects on learning and memory processes in mice which is circadian-phase dependent.     

北方设施栽培条件下氮素水平对辣木幼苗生长的影响

为了明确辣木幼苗速生期氮素需求规律,在北方设施条件下,通过设置5个氮素水平处理,研究施氮对辣木幼苗株高、地径生长及其叶片N、P、K养分含量、色素含量及光合特性等方面的变化特征。结果显示,随着氮素水平增加,辣木株高、地径、叶片N、P、chla、类胡萝卜素、总色素含量及光量子效率（Q）呈先上升后下降的变化趋势,光补偿点（Lcp）呈先下降后上升趋势;株高生长与叶片P及chla显著相关,地径与暗呼吸速率（RD）及叶片K含量显著相关;当氮素水平在30 g·株^-1（N₃）时,辣木生长速度最快,植株养分状况较好、光能利用率最佳。     

北方地区不同基质对辣木幼苗生长的影响及相关性分析

研究高寒地区设施条件下,不同基质对多油辣木（Moringa oleifera Lam.）及其两个改良种PKM1、PKM2的苗木生长阶段株高、地径、形态解剖等特征的影响,筛选适宜的栽培基质。结果表明,珍珠岩+园土+腐殖土（1：2：1,T₁）、草炭+河沙+腐熟蘑菇基料（3：1：1,T₂）、园土+腐殖土+草炭+河沙（2：1：1：1,T₃）、园土（CK）4个基质中,T₂基质最适宜辣木生长,其有机质高达49.97 g·kg^-1、孔隙度76.84%、容重为0.58 g·cm^-3、速效N、P、K等肥力指标也显著高于其它处理（P<0.05）;在T₂基质中,辣木生长速度显著快于其它处理（P<0.05）,定植71 d多油辣木、PKM1、PKM2三个品种株高依次是80.2、115.67、81.0 cm,较园土（CK,T₄）分别增长了38.3%、25.7%、28.6%;地径依次为13.27、17.47、15.08 mm,较对照分别增粗了32.0%、14.6%、39.0%;T₂处理的地上部分的发育最快,60 d茎表皮完全死亡、破裂,最外层形成周皮,韧皮纤维及木质部较其它处理发达;结合基质的8个向量因子与辣木株高、地径相关性分析,可知：有机质含量高、通气性、保水性及供肥能力较好的基质更加适宜辣木生长,各因子对辣木生长影响大小顺序依次为有机质、速效钾、含水率、孔隙度、容重、碱解氮、速效磷（P<0.05）。     

响应面法优化水酶法提取辣木籽蛋白质的工艺及其功能性质研究

为了提取和利用辣木籽蛋白质,本文通过水酶法优化其提取条件,并探讨其功能性质。以辣木籽为原材料,以蛋白质提取率为指标,首先确定了最佳使用酶为Alcalase碱性蛋白酶,再通过单因素试验考察料液比、时间、温度、酶添加量和pH等因素对蛋白质提取率的影响,在此基础上,利用响应面试验设计优化水酶法提取辣木籽蛋白质的工艺。结果表明,最佳工艺条件为:使用Alcalase碱性蛋白酶,在料液比为1∶10,酶添加量为4.5%,pH为9.0,温度为60℃,时间为4.5 h,此时辣木籽蛋白质的提取率最高为68.23%。在pH为10、温度为55℃时辣木籽蛋白质的氮溶解指数最高;辣木籽蛋白质持水性随着pH的增加而增加,在温度为40℃时持水性最好;在温度为55℃时,辣木籽分离蛋白的吸油效果最明显。     

Preventive Effects of Moringa oleifera (Lam) on Hyperlipidemia and Hepatocyte Ultrastructural Changes in Iron Deficient Rats

The effects of Moringa oleifera (MO), Moringaceae on hyperlipidemia and hepatocyte ultrastructural changes caused by iron deficiency were investigated. Four-week-old male Wistar-strain rats were fed a control diet based on AIN-93G (C), an iron deficient diet (FeD), a FeD + 0.5% MO (FeD-m) diet, or a FeD + MO 1% (FeD-M) diet for 4 weeks. It was found that MO reduced iron-deficient diet-induced increases in serum and hepatic lipids with dose-dependent increases of serum quercetin and kaempherol, but did not prevent anemia. By electron microscopy, in iron deficient hepatocytes, slightly swollen mitochondria and few glycogen granules were observed, but glycogen granules increased and mitochondria were normalized by treatment with MO. Furthermore, lipoproteins were observed in the Golgi complex under treatment with MO. These results suggest a possible beneficial effect of MO in the prevention of hyperlipidemia and ultrastructural changes in hepatocytes due to iron-deficiency.