
Moringa oleifera, also known as the drumstick tree, horseradish tree, or ben oil tree, is a traditional medicinal plant native to India. It has been used for centuries due to its health benefits, ranging from speeding up wound healing to managing blood glucose. Moringa leaves are believed to have laxative effects and are used to treat constipation.
Research suggests that moringa leaves can adjust stool number, weight, and water content to achieve laxative effects. One study found that moringa reduced stomach acidity by around 85%, indicating its potential to prevent peptic ulcers. Another study found that moringa oleifera leaf alleviates functional constipation by regulating the gut microbiota and the enteric nervous system in mice.
However, it is important to note that consuming large quantities of moringa may cause stomach upset, gaseous distension, diarrhoea, and heartburn. As with any supplement, it is essential to consult a doctor before consuming moringa, especially for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and individuals on certain medications.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Effect on stool number | Increases |
Effect on wet faecal weight | Increases |
Effect on faecal water content | Increases |
Effect on colon muscle thickness | Recovers |
Effect on mucus | Recovers |
Laxative effect compared to Folium Sennae | Inferior |
Laxative effect compared to Rhubarb | Superior |
Laxative effect compared to Aloe vera | Superior |
Laxative effect compared to Hemp seed | Superior |
Intensity of diarrhoeal effect | Mild |
Duration of laxative effect | Long-lasting |
What You'll Learn
- Moringa's laxative effect is inferior to Folium Sennae, but stronger than Aloe vera, Rhubarb and Hemp seed
- Moringa leaves can adjust stool number, weight and water content to achieve laxative effects
- Moringa's laxative effect may be due to its modulation of the ENS-ICCs-SMCs network
- Moringa's high vitamin C content may contribute to its laxative properties
- Moringa's amino acid content may be responsible for its laxative effects
Moringa's laxative effect is inferior to Folium Sennae, but stronger than Aloe vera, Rhubarb and Hemp seed
Moringa oleifera, also known as the drumstick tree, the miracle tree, the ben oil tree, or the horseradish tree, is a traditional medicinal plant with a wide range of purported health benefits. One of these is its laxative effect, which has been compared to that of Folium Sennae, Aloe vera, Rhubarb, and Hemp seed.
Moringa leaves have been shown to have a mild laxative effect, increasing defecation volume and water content in the stool, which helps to soften the stool and promote bowel movements. In a study on mice, moringa leaves were found to adjust stool number, wet faecal weight, and faecal water content to varying degrees, resulting in a laxative effect. This effect was found to be long-lasting and milder than that of Folium Sennae, but stronger than that of Aloe vera, Rhubarb, and Hemp seed. The metabolic pathway for constipation was also found to be more similar to that of Folium Sennae.
The laxative effect of moringa leaves can be attributed to their high fibre content, which aids in improving digestive health. Additionally, moringa leaves have been shown to reduce stomach acidity by around 85%, suggesting that they could help prevent peptic ulcers. The leaves also possess antibiotic and antibacterial properties, which may help prevent the growth of pathogens that cause infections.
In traditional Chinese medicine, Folium Sennae, Rhubarb, Aloe vera, and Hemp seed are commonly used as laxatives, with varying characteristics and intensities of diarrhoeal effects. Folium Sennae, for example, has a stronger purgative effect than moringa, while Aloe vera, Rhubarb, and Hemp seed have milder effects.
In conclusion, the laxative effect of Moringa oleifera leaves is supported by research, particularly in comparison to other traditional medicinal plants. Its long-lasting and mild effect, similar metabolic pathway to Folium Sennae, and ability to increase defecation volume and water content in the stool make it a promising natural treatment for constipation with potentially fewer side effects.
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Moringa leaves can adjust stool number, weight and water content to achieve laxative effects
Moringa oleifera, also known as the drumstick tree, the miracle tree, the ben oil tree, or the horseradish tree, has been used for centuries due to its health benefits. It is particularly well-known for its use in treating constipation.
Moringa leaves can adjust stool number, weight, and water content to achieve laxative effects. In a study on mice, moringa leaves were found to increase defecation volume and water content in feces, and reduce colon muscle thickness and mucus. This suggests that moringa leaves can be used as a treatment for constipation, as an increase in fecal water content can promote defecation.
In another study, the hot water extract of moringa oleifera leaves (WEMOL) was found to increase the water content of feces, as well as the levels of gastrointestinal hormones in constipation-induced rats. This study also found that WEMOL improved the muscle layer thickness and mucin secretion of the colon.
Overall, moringa leaves have a long-lasting and mild laxative effect, and can be used to treat constipation by increasing the defecation volume and water content of feces. However, it is important to note that consuming large quantities of moringa may cause stomach upset, gaseous distension, diarrhea, and heartburn.
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Moringa's laxative effect may be due to its modulation of the ENS-ICCs-SMCs network
Moringa oleifera leaves have been shown to have laxative effects, and the mechanism behind this may be due to its modulation of the ENS-ICCs-SMCs network.
The ENS-ICCs-SMCs network is primarily organised by interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs), which are the pacemaker cells that create the bioelectrical slow wave potential in the gastrointestinal tract. Acting as facilitators of gastrointestinal electrical activity and regulators of neurotransmitter transmission, ICCs play a critical role in normal gastrointestinal motility.
Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOAE) has been found to regulate gastrointestinal hormones and neurotransmitters in serum, as well as important gastrointestinal motility factors in the ENS-ICCs-SMCs network. MOAE was found to upregulate the expression of c-Kit in the colon and SCF in the ileum, which are important markers of ICCs. MOAE also restored the expression of other factors related to gastrointestinal motility, such as Ano1, RyR3, and smMLCK.
Additionally, MOAE was found to alleviate intestinal inflammation and improve intestinal barrier function, which are often impaired in patients with constipation. MOAE inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and restored the expression of intestinal barrier function factors, such as Muc2, ZO-1, and Occludin.
Furthermore, MOAE affected the intestinal microbiota by inhibiting "constipation-causing" microbiota, such as Bacteroidaceae, Clostridiaceae, Bacteroides, and Ruminococcus, and promoting the growth of "constipation-curing" microbiota, such as Butyricoccus, Tyzzerella, and Desulfovibrio.
Overall, the laxative effect of Moringa oleifera may be attributed to its ability to modulate the ENS-ICCs-SMCs network, intestinal inflammation, intestinal barrier function, and the gut microbiota.
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Moringa's high vitamin C content may contribute to its laxative properties
Moringa oleifera, also known as the drumstick tree, the miracle tree, the ben oil tree, or the horseradish tree, has been used for centuries due to its health benefits. It is particularly rich in vitamin C, containing 50% more vitamin C than oranges.
Moringa has been shown to have laxative properties, and can be used to treat constipation. In one study, moringa was found to increase the water content of faeces, and may therefore become a medicine to treat constipation with fewer side effects. Moringa's high vitamin C content may contribute to its laxative properties. Vitamin C has been shown to have a positive effect on constipation.
In addition to its laxative properties, moringa has many other health benefits, including wound healing, managing blood glucose, preventing and treating cancer, treating stomach upset, fighting foodborne bacterial infections, improving eye health, and treating anemia and sickle cell disease.
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Moringa's amino acid content may be responsible for its laxative effects
Moringa oleifera leaves have been shown to have laxative effects, increasing defecation volume and water content in faeces. The amino acid content of moringa may be responsible for its laxative effects.
Phenylalanine (L-Phe) and L-arginine (L-Arg) are the two main amino acids in moringa. L-Phe can improve constipation in rats by remodelling the structure of the intestinal microbial community and altering metabolite levels. L-Phe can also improve intestinal barrier health and the immune status of young grass carp, which is associated with regulating the gene expression of cytokines, tight junction proteins, and antioxidant enzymes. L-Phe is able to stimulate the secretion of gastric and humoral proteins in pigs through calcium-sensing receptors. L-Phe can also inhibit the activity of acetylcholinesterase in the brains and diaphragms of rats.
L-Arg can be converted to nitric oxide in the body, and there is strong evidence that L-Arg supplementation can promote gastrointestinal motility and relieve constipation. For example, diarrhoea was found after oral administration of large amounts of L-Arg in clinical studies. Animal experimental studies also showed that intraperitoneal injection of L-Arg could reverse the constipation caused by morphine. Long-term administration of L-Arg could also reverse the decline in gastrointestinal motility caused by morphine in mice. In addition, it has also been shown that dietary L-Arg can promote Aquaporin-3 expression and water transport in porcine trophoblast cells and attenuate colonic barrier damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation in intrauterine growth-retarded lactating lambs by modulating the gut microbiota.
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Frequently asked questions
Moringa oleifera, also known as the drumstick tree, the miracle tree, the ben oil tree, or the horseradish tree, is a tree with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Moringa has a range of health benefits, including wound healing, managing blood glucose, and preventing and treating cancer.
Moringa has laxative properties. In large quantities, it may cause stomach upsets, gaseous distension, diarrhoea, and heartburn.
Moringa should be avoided by pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and people on blood-thinning medications. Consult a doctor before giving moringa to young children, elders, or anyone with a medical condition.
There is no recommended dosage for moringa. However, it is advised not to consume large quantities to avoid potential side effects.