Abstract

TORRES-CASTILLO, JA et al. Moringa oleifera: phytochemical detection, antioxidants, enzymes and antifugal properties. Phyton (B. Aires) [online]. 2013, vol.82, n.2, pp.193-202. ISSN 1851-5657.

Moringa oleifera is a plant with a high biotechnology potential due to its high content of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, and secondary metabolites. Some of their secondary compounds have been advocated for traditional medicinal uses. This work shows an overview of the histological organization and the composition of some biochemical components (e.g.: enzymatic inhibitors, phytochemicals, enzymatic profiles and antifungal potential) of different plant tissues. These components could be associated with the physiology and defense mechanisms of the study plant species. These activities were detected using synthetic substrates by conventional strategies based on spectrophotometrical and zymography assays. Moringa oleifera presented a typical histological array for dicotyle-donous plants. According to the phytochemical assay, leaves showed the highest antioxidant activity, which could be related with their contents of phenolic compounds. Also, trypsin inhibitors were detected in different parts of the plant, indicating possible implications as defensive traits. The presence and abundance of the detected compounds could be associated with a general status of the physiology of the plant. It should be noted, however, that all components detected could be involved in plant defense mechanisms.

Keywords : Moringa oleifera; Phytochemicals; Plant defense; Tryp-sin inhibitors; Proteinases.

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