title: Antioxidant, antimicrobial and phytochemical variations in thirteen Moringa oleifera Lam. cultivars.
abstract: A study was undertaken to assess variation in antioxidant, antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of thirteen Moringa oleifera cultivars obtained from different locations across the globe. Standard antioxidant methods including the DPPH scavenging, ferric reducing power (FRAP) and β-carotene-linoleic acid model were used to evaluate the activity. Variation in the antioxidant activity was observed, with TOT4951 from Thailand being the most active, with activity five times higher than that of ascorbic acid (reference compound). A different trend was observed for the activity in the FRAP and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays. Antimicrobial activity was tested against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Klebsiella pneumoniae) strains using the microdilution method. Acetone extracts of all cultivars exhibited good antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae (MIC values of 0.78 mg/mL). The remaining extracts exhibited weak activity against the two microorganisms. For the antifungal activity, all the extracts exhibited low activity. Variations were observed in the total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Cultivars TOT5169 (Thailand) and SH (South Africa) exhibited highest amounts of total phenolic compounds while TOT5028 (Thailand) exhibited the lowest amounts of five times lower than the highest. The information offer an understanding on variations between cultivars from different geographical locations and is important in the search for antioxidant supplementation and anti-ageing products.
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Research Council, Vegetable and Ornamental Plants Institute (VOPI), Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. NdhlalaA@arc.agric.za.
authors.forename: Ashwell R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ndhlala
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Research Council, Vegetable and Ornamental Plants Institute (VOPI), Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. MulaudziR@arc.agric.za.
authors.forename: Rofhiwa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mulaudzi
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa. NcubeB@ukzn.ac.za.
authors.forename: Bhekumthetho
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ncube
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Research Council, Vegetable and Ornamental Plants Institute (VOPI), Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. AbdelgadirH@arc.agric.za.
authors.forename: Hafiz A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Abdelgadir
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Research Council, Vegetable and Ornamental Plants Institute (VOPI), Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. IduPlooy@arc.agric.za.
authors.forename: Christian P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: du Plooy
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa. rcpgd@ukzn.ac.za.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Staden
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000254:growth & development*; D029588:Moringa oleifera / Q000737:chemistry*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000975:Antioxidants