Publication:

Hepatoprotective and antiproliferative activity of moringinine, chlorogenic acid and quercetin

Background The three well-characterized phytochemicals in Moringa oleifera leaves are moringinine, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid. Moringa oleifera is postulated to have the highest antioxidant content in food and also has a remarkable range of medicinal uses and high nutritional value.

Methods Evaluation of the antiproliferative effect of moringinine, quercetin and chlorogenic acid as well Moringa oleifera leaves extract on two human cell lines, breast cancer cell line (MCF7) and liver carcinoma cell line (HepG2) using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. The efficacy on liver toxicity induced in rat by alloxan was carried out.

Results Our results indicated that both quercetin and moringinine are strong antitumor agents against the two human cell lines, the extract and its three active ingredients improved the induced liver toxicity.

Conclusions Quercetin and moringinine are responsible to a great extent for the antitumor activity of the whole extract. Chlorogenic acid is a potent hepatoprotective in alloxan induced liver toxicity.