In Vitro Antibacterial, Phytochemical and Molecular Characterization of Moringa oleifera Lam.

Introduction

Moringa oleifera(Moringaceae) is luxuriously growing in tropical climatic zones and its leaves, fruits and flowers are consumed as vegetables. All the plant parts are utilised for their pharmacological, nutritional and water purifying properties¹. Leaves are eaten as vegetables and are used in traditional pharmacology to treat many ailments². The hepatoprotective³; antidiabetic⁴; cardioprotective⁵; anticancer⁶; antioxidant⁷; neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory⁸; anti-asthmatic⁹; anti-arthritic¹⁰; antimicrobial¹¹; anti-ulcer¹²; CNS activity¹³; anti-allergic¹⁴; wound healing¹⁵; analgesic and antipyretic^16,17activities were demonstrated earlier. The phytochemical profile of M. oleifera was reported earlier¹⁸. AFLP marker based genetic analysis of seven populations of M. oleifera from Kenya was also documented¹⁹.

The population structure and genetic diversity of a global collection of 161 accessions of M. oleifera gathered from Asia, Africa, North and South America, and the Caribbean were also studied using 19 SSR markers and a partial sequence of the chloroplast gene atpB²⁰. Eight Indian cultivars of M. oleifera, from different states in India, were examined for genetic variability using markers like cytochrome P450 gene, ISSR and RAPD^21.Clustering pattern was independent of geographic origin of the accessions and concluded the spread of propagules and increased rates of gene flow in the studied area. This investigation aimed to screen the plant extracts of M. oleiferafor its antibacterial activity, qualitative phytochemical analysis and molecular characterization of five accessions collected from various localities of South Kerala.

Materials and Methods

Source Plant

Tender leaves of M. oleifera were obtained from Kallumala region of Mavelikara municipality (Sl. No. 3; Table 1). The fresh and dried leaves are used for the antibacterial and phytochemical analysis. For molecular analysis, five samples were collected directly from home orchards (Table 1).

Table 1: M. oleifera accessions used for molecular studies.

No.	Sample Code	Geographic origin
1	SR912-CA	CHENNITHALA
2	SR912-CR	CHENGANNUR
3	SR912-KA	KALLUMALA
4	SR912-O	OCHIRA
5	SR912-TVPM	TRIVANDRUM

Leaf Extract preparation

100g of leaves were collected and ground using a mortar and pestle. The fresh extract obtained was stored in a clean airtight bottle for antibacterial analysis.10 ml of leaf...