Moringa oleifera, also known as the Drumstick tree, radish tree, miracle tree and “mom’s best friend,” is rated as the most nutritious plant with a variety of medicinal benefits and is also known for its many uses, such as: seeds are used to purify water, leaves are used as nutritional supplements, oils are used as biofuels, trunks are used as chewing gum, and flowers are used to make honey.
What are the benefits of using moringa in empirical medicine? Are there any side effects and contraindications? See text analysis for details.
What is Moringa?
Moringa is the only genus in the Moringaceae family, mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions, and is a fast-growing evergreen or deciduous tree that can grow up to 10 to 12 meters tall.
This plant is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C and minerals (iron, potassium, calcium, copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese) and different types of active plant ingredients such as protein, quinine, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, sterols, glycosides, oils and other types of active plant ingredients.
There are about 13 varieties of moringa, among which Moringa oleifera Lam variety is a common research target, which has been found to have anti-asthma, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-ulcer, anti-allergic, wound healing, analgesic, antipyretic and other pharmacological effects.
What are the proven benefits of moringa?
1. Moringa can improve type 2 diabetes
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, lipid and protein metabolism, with specific acute and chronic complications.
Acute complications, such as diabetic ketoacidosis (caused by insulin deficiency) and coma (caused by hypoglycemia), can lead to death in individuals.
Chronic complications often occur in blood vessels, including microvascular (neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy) or large vessels (cardiovascular disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease).
Peripheral vascular disease often results in bruises, injuries or gangrene that are difficult to heal, which may eventually require amputation
A prospective randomized placebo-controlled study (4-week study of 32 previously untreated patients with type 2 diabetes) noted that oral moringa leaf capsules failed to improve fasting plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C). Note 1
*Conclusion: To date, there is no clear evidence that moringa improves glycemic control, and it remains to be confirmed
2. Moringa has a liver-protecting effect
The liver is an important organ for maintaining the stability of the environment in the body. Responsible for a variety of metabolic functions and physiological processes, such as bile production, energy production, vitamin storage, and carbohydrate, protein, lipid metabolism.
As a result, the liver is particularly vulnerable to toxic damage, and examples of liver damage include fatty liver, nonalcoholic steatosis, hepatitis A, B or C, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
One animal study suggested that moringa extract (flower or leaf sites) helped reduce liver damage caused by drug injection. Note 2
*Conclusion: Animal studies have found that moringa may have liver-protecting effects, but further support is needed in human studies.
3. Moringa improves metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is an asymptomatic pathophysiology characterized by obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, blood glucose, and dyslipidemia.
Associated risk factors include a large amount of fat around the abdomen (visceral obesity) and insulin resistance of surrounding tissue cells.
Due to a sedentary lifestyle and excessive calorie intake, metabolic syndrome is a common health problem worldwide, with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimating that 25% of the global population suffers from metabolic syndrome
An animal study has shown that oral moringa leaf powder significantly improves glucose tolerance, triglycerides levels, and abdominal circumference. Note 3
*Conclusion: Animal studies have found that the effect of moringa leaf on improving metabolic syndrome is unknown, but further confirmation is still needed in human studies
4. Moringa helps to enhance antioxidant potency
Oxygen is an indispensable element of life, and when cells use oxygen to produce energy, free radicals are the main by-products, which are reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species produced during the redox process of cells.
At low or moderate levels, reactive oxygen species ROS and reactive nitrogen RNS have beneficial effects on cellular response and immune function.
But in high concentrations, they create oxidative stress, a harmful process that destroys all cellular structures and plays an important role in the development of chronic and degenerative diseases such as cancer, arthritis, aging, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.
A study of 20 healthy adults showed that moringa leaf extract helped improve plasma iron reducing capacity (FRAP), total antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and reduce malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Note 4
*Conclusion: Oral moringa leaf extract helps to improve the body’s antioxidant capacity
What are the side effects of moringa?
It is safe to consume the leaves and fruits of moringa in moderation as food. Roots and seeds may contain toxic substances and are best avoided.
Safety precautions (5 contraindications to use)
1. Do not use by pregnant women (because it has been found in animal studies to cause miscarriage, it should be avoided for safety) Note 5
2. Do not use in lactating women (although it has been found to increase milk secretion in human studies, the safety of young children is unknown, so it should be avoided) Note 6
3. Do not use if the liver and kidney function is poor (due to unknown safety)
4. It may have a hypoglycemic effect, so please use with caution if you have diabetes or take related hypoglycemic drugs
5. Do not use it in combination with drugs that need to be acted by cytochrome P450 enzyme, which may affect the efficacy of the drug and cause increased side effects, related drugs include: amitriptyline (Elavil), Valium, ziliutong
(Zyflo), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren), fluvastatin (Lescol), glipizide (Glucotrol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), irbesartan (Avapro), Losartan (Cozaar), phenytoin (Dilantin), piroxicam (Feldene), tamoxifen (Nolvadex), methylene (Tolinase) , Demadex, Coumadin.
Where can I buy the highest quality Moringa that is recommended by most people?
| Organic India, Moringa, 90 Vegetarian Caps (Direct shipping from the United States / Worldwide delivery) |
Product Features： Organic India is a high-quality herbal health brand originating in India, working with thousands of Indian farmers to grow tens of thousands of acres of sustainable organic farmland to improve the lives of local farmers and contribute to the environment and society USDA Organic Non GMO | |
