A Comprehensive Review of the Phytochemical Constituents and Hepatoprotective Potential of Moringa oleifera Flowers

Author

Eniyavan S, Deepika V, Charumathi S, Thirumalai P


Abstract

 Moringa oleifera Lam., belonging to the family Moringaceae, is a widely distributed medicinal and nutritional plant with considerable pharmacological potential. Different parts of the plant contain diverse bioactive constituents, including flavonoids, phenolic compounds, glucosinolates, carbamates, terpenoids, steroids, tannins and vitamins [1,2]. Although leaves and seeds have received extensive scientific attention, the flowers of M. oleifera remain comparatively less investigated. Phytochemical studies of the flowers have identified flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids and phenolic compounds, while isolated-compound studies have demonstrated the presence of several low-molecular-weight constituents [3–5]. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of flower extracts provide a plausible basis for their hepatoprotective potential [3,6]. Experimental evidence has directly demonstrated protective effects of hydroethanolic M. oleifera flower extract against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, with improvements in biochemical and histopathological parameters [7]. Hepatoprotection may involve attenuation of oxidative stress, reduction of lipid peroxidation, preservation of endogenous antioxidant defenses and modulation of inflammatory processes. However, much of the broader mechanistic evidence for M. oleifera hepatoprotection originates from leaves, seeds or whole-plant preparations rather than flowers specifically [1,2,8]. This review therefore focuses on the phytochemical composition of M. oleifera flowers and critically examines their potential hepatoprotective mechanisms and experimental evidence. The limited flower-specific literature highlights the need for standardized extracts, detailed phytochemical characterization, molecular studies and further in-vivo investigations.



Keywords

Moringa oleifera, flowers, hepatoprotection, phytochemicals, flavonoids, oxidative stress, liver injury, antioxidant, inflammation.



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References


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