MORINGA OLEIFERA: A NEW PERSPECTIVE FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF NATURAL PRODUCTS

Moringa oleifera Lam. is a plant native from India, but its distribution extends to all continents. Its leaves, flowers, pods and seeds are commonly used for food, mainly in Africa, due to its high nutritional value. With regard to medicine, M. oleifera demonstrates immeasurable potential in view of the various biological activities which are reported from its secondary compounds, such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonols, steroids, saponins, coumarins, quinones, resins, lectins among others. Based on this assumption, this review aims to expose the potential of Moringa oleifera in the period 2016-2018, in the use of its compounds for the synthesis of natural products due to its diverse biological activities. The results showed that the several parts of the plant may have different biological activities. The seeds have antibacterial activity with dental importance; activity in the prevention and deceleration of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease (ALS); anti-hypertrophic and anti-fibrotic effect, being beneficial for cardiac structure and function in hypertensive mice; anticancer activity; anti-inflammatory; and protection of neural cells. For the leaves were reported Antitumor activities; therapeutic efficacy against neurotoxicity; for insulin expression and decrease in the degree of insulitis; antimicrobial activity; reduction of myocardial damage and oxidative stress; treatment in atopic dermatitis; gastroprotective activity and improvement of mucus; hypocholesterolemic effect; and ability to prevent chromatolysis, distortion of cerebellar cortical cells and neurobehavioral deficit. For the other parts of the plant similar activities are described, however in less quantity. Thus, Moringa oleifera presents a new perspective on the synthesis of natural products, considering the range of biological activities described for a species, as well as the ease of obtaining and using its compounds.