Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Crude Extracts and Anti-Cancer Properties of Acetone Extract of Moringa Oleifera Lam. Flowers on Cell Line Models

In recent times, Moringa oleifera has earned great interest for its various physiological and therapeutic benefits. Acetone, ethanol, methanol, and aqueous extracts of Moringa oleifera flowers were investigated for anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer potential. Anti-inflammatory capacity was evaluated using the inhibition of nitric oxide production (LPS-induced) on RAW 264.7, and cell viability was appraised with the MTT assay. The potential of the acetone extract of Moringa oleifera flower (MOA) was evaluated on the C3A cell line treated with MOA for 48 h, with Melphalan as a positive control, as well as apoptotic markers (phosphatidylserine translocation, cell cycle arrest). Significant reduction in NO levels (P<0.05) was observed for extracts MFW and MFE at 200 μg/mL, with no cytotoxicity against macrophages, but gradual concentration-dependent inhibition of NO production by the methanol extract. MOA induced phosphatidylserine translocation resulting in apoptosis, cell cycle analysis revealed no significant cell-cycle arrest, while caspase-3 activation (MOA 125 µg/mL) showed a five-fold increase in cleaved caspase-3 (P<0.05). These findings imply for the first time that the acetone extract of Moringa oleifera flowers has anti-inflammatory capacity and impedes hepatic cancer progression in C3A cells.