• Helping decrease blood sugar levels:
Beneficial plant compounds in the leaves, like isothiocyanates, may be responsible for moringa’s potential anti-diabetic effects. One study discovered that women who took 7 grams of moringa leaf powder daily for three months were able to decrease their fasting blood sugar levels by 13.5 percent. Another study showed that adding 50 grams of moringa leaves to a meal lowered the increase in blood sugar levels among diabetic patients by 21 percent.
•Reducing inflammation:
Isothiocyanates, flavonoids and phenolic acids in moringa leaves, pods and seeds were proven to have anti-inflammatory properties. The Epoch Times emphasizes: "The tree's strong anti-inflammatory action is traditionally used to treat stomach ulcers. Moringa oil (sometimes called Ben oil) has been shown to protect the liver from chronic inflammation. The oil is unique in that, unlike most vegetable oils, moringa resists rancidity … It is also used topically to treat antifungal problems [and] arthritis, and is an excellent skin moisturizer."
•Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels:
Moringa can help with lowering your body’s cholesterol levels. An animal study proved that moringa’s effects were comparable to those of simvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug. Research published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology also highlighted that: " … Recent studies demonstrated its hypocholesterolemic effect. ... In hypercholesterol-fed rabbits, at 12 weeks of treatment, it significantly (P<0.05) lowered the cholesterol levels and reduced the atherosclerotic plaque formation to about 50 and 86 [percent], respectively. These effects were at degrees comparable to those of simvastatin.... The results indicate that this plant possesses antioxidant, hypolipidaemic, and antiatherosclerotic activities, and has therapeutic potential for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases."
•Helping protect against arsenic toxicity:
Moringa leaves and seeds may help the body in combating the effects of arsenic toxicity, especially in commonly contaminated staple foods like rice.13 A study published in Cell Biology noted that: "Co-administration of M. oleifera [moringa] seed powder (250 and 500 mg/kg, orally) with arsenic significantly increased the activities of SOD [superoxide dismutase], catalase and GPx with elevation in reduced GSH level in tissues (liver, kidney and brain).
These changes were accompanied by approximately 57 [percent], 64 [percent], and 17 [percent] decrease in blood ROS [reactive oxygen species], liver metallothionein (MT), and lipid peroxidation respectively in animal co-administered with M. oleifera and arsenic.
Another interesting observation has been the reduced uptake of arsenic in soft tissues (55 [percent] in blood, 65 [percent] in liver, 54 [percent] in kidneys, and 34 [percent] in brain) following administration of M. oleifera seed powder (particularly at the dose of 500 mg/kg).
It can thus be concluded from the present study that concomitant administration of M. oleifera seed powder with arsenic could significantly protect animals from oxidative stress and in reducing tissue arsenic concentration. Administration of M. oleifera seed powder thus could also be beneficial during chelation therapy …"
•Possessing antibacterial and detoxification properties:
Isothiocyanates in moringa are responsible for the herb’s antibacterial properties that can help eliminate the H. pylori bacteria. Plus, moringa can also be utilized as a detoxification tool because of its ability to attach itself to harmful materials in the body.
On the other hand, initial research showed that moringa seeds can work better in purifying water, compared to the conventional synthetic materials being utilized today. According to researchers from Uppsala University: "A protein in the seeds binds to impurities causing them to aggregate so that the clusters can be separated from the water. The study … published in the journal Colloids and Surfaces A takes a step toward optimization of the water purification process.
Researchers in Uppsala together with colleagues from Lund as well as Namibia, Botswana, France, and the USA have studied the microscopic structure of aggregates formed with the protein.
The results show that the clusters of material (flocs) that are produced with the protein are much more tightly packed than those formed with conventional flocculating agents. This is better for water purification as such flocs are more easily separated."