Anti-cyanobacterial activity of Moringa oleifera seeds

Abstract

Filtrates from crushed Moringa oleifera seeds were tested for their effects on growth and Photosystem II efficiency of the common bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. M. aeruginosa populations exhibited good growth in controls and treatments with 4- and 8-mg crushed Moringa seeds per liter, having similar growth rates of 0.50 (±0.01) per day. In exposures of 20- to 160-mg crushed Moringa seeds L−1, growth rates were negative and on average −0.23 (±0.05) .day−1. Presumably, in the higher doses of 20- to 160-mg crushed seeds per liter, the cyanobacteria died, which was supported by a rapid drop in the Photosystem II efficiency (ΦPSII), while the ΦPSII was high and unaffected in 0, 4, and 8 mg L−1. High-density populations of M. aeruginosa (chlorophyll-a concentrations of ∼270 µg L−1) were reduced to very low levels within 2 weeks of exposure to ≥80-mg crushed seeds per liter. At the highest dosage of 160 mg L−1, the ΦPSII dropped to zero rapidly and remained nil during the course of the experiment (14 days). Hence, under laboratory conditions, a complete wipeout of the bloom could be achieved. This is the first study that yielded evidence for cyanobactericidal activity of filtrate from crushed Moringa seeds, suggesting that Moringa seed extracts might have a potential as an effect-oriented measure lessening cyanobacterial nuisance.

Evaluation of several end-of-pipe measures proposed to control cyanobacteria

“…Often rather high concentrations are needed, Aquat Ecol (2016) 50:499-519 503 making applications expensive or virtually impossible (Shao et al 2013). Moreover, concomitant input of nutrients could aggravate eutrophication (Lürling and Beekman 2010;Shao et al 2013), while high amounts of organic matter in combination with expected warming could lead to higher bloom toxicity (Ekvall et al 2013). Plant extracts are often used as synonyms for allelochemicals, despite no proof on their exudation from living plants to the surrounding water exists.…”

Antifungal Activity of Petrolium and Ethanolic Extracts of Moringa Oleifera Leaves against Penicillium Chrysogenum and Cryptococcus Neoformans

“…They are about 30-60 cm long and contains many small leaflets. (6,7) Each leaflet is about 1 to 2 cm long and 0.5 to 1.0 cm wide. Upper surface of leaflets is smooth dark while lower is pale green.…”

Effect of Selected Plant Extracts and D- and L-Lysine on the Cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa

“…The active dose range for the M. oleifera extracts was based on [21]. A dilution series of each stock solution was made in WC medium such that the added volume was always 1 mL.…”

“…The majority of these products are compounds extracted from plant tissues and tested on M. aeruginosa [17][18][19]. In such testing, extracts from Fructus mume [19], Salvia miltiorrhiza (Chinese Danshen) [20] and extracts from seeds of the pan tropical tree Moringa oleifera [21] are observed to express anti-cyanobacterial activity against M. aeruginosa. In addition, the amino acid L-lysine is reported as active against cyanobacteria [22][23][24].…”