Moringa oleifera: A Prebiotics Material for Better Health

Introduction: Prebiotics are non-digestible dietary fibres and carbohydrates that promote the growth and activity of probiotics, beneficial microorganisms that play a significant role in host health. Probiotics are live microbes that confer health benefits to the host by maintaining gut microbiota balance, immune function, and supporting mental well-being. They also play a vital role in the prevention and management of obesity, diabetes, and immune related disorders. Prebiotics serve as substrates that selectively stimulate the growth and activity of these beneficial microbes.

Methods: Non-traditional materials, such as moringa leaves, gum, pod-powder, gum acacia, etc., were selected, powdered, sterilized, and evaluated as potential prebiotics. The prebiotic index (PI) and prebiotic activity score (PA) were calculated using the plate count method with the probiotic strains Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus in the presence of the pathogenic bacterium E. coli.

Results: An in vitro quantitative screening of the selected materials was performed to evaluated their prebiotic efficiency and prebiotic index. Among the tested materials, moringa exhibited the highest prebiotic potential, effectively inhibiting the growth of E. coli while supporting the growth of Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The probiotic efficiency ranged from 1.6 to 1.9 and the prebiotic index exceeded 1.0 for both probiotic strains. These findings suggest that moringa is a promising prebiotic material with potential applications in the development of health promoting functional foods.