Nutritional profiles of Moringa pods (<i>Moringa oleifera</i>) and their extract activities on SaOS-2 osteoblast cells

Background: Moringa oleifera has long been valued in traditional Asian medicine and cuisine for its numerous health benefits. It is rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds and exhibits powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Objectives: This study investigated the nutritional profile and potential health benefits of Moringa pods, focusing on their anti-inflammatory properties and ability to promote bone formation at the cellular level. Furthermore, it explores the in vitro anti-inflammatory potential of Moringa pod extract by evaluating its ability to reduce inflammatory cytokine secretion and promote bone formation in osteoblast cells. Methods: Freeze-dried Moringa pod powder was analyzed for its caloric content, macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, and amino acid composition. Results: The pods contain 29 calories per 100 g (dry weight), with a high protein content of 19.69 g and low-fat levels (3.2 g). Notably, they are rich in dietary fiber (48.66 g) and essential minerals such as potassium (2251 mg) and magnesium (151.4 mg). The highlighted key amino acids are glycine (2167.88 mg) and L-arginine (1923.08 mg). In vitro experiments have demonstrated that Moringa pod extract at concentrations of 62.5 to 250 µg/mL significantly reduced inflammation in LPS-stimulated SaOS-2 osteoblast cells, leading to decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, the extract enhanced cell viability and calcium production, suggesting its potential to promote bone health. Novelty: This study provides a comprehensive nutritional profile of Moringa pods, including detailed amino acid and mineral content. It also uniquely demonstrates Moringa pod extract’s in vitro anti-inflammatory and bone-forming potential in SaOS-2 osteoblast cells, highlighting its rich nutritional composition and bioactivity. Conclusion: Moringa pods exhibit significant potential to modulate inflammation and promote bone formation in SaOS-2 cells. The extract effectively reduced inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species, enhancing cell viability and decreasing apoptosis. It also significantly increased calcium production, a key indicator of bone health. These findings suggest Moringa pod extract is a promising therapeutic agent for maintaining bone homeostasis and preventing inflammatory bone disorders, warranting further research for clinical applications. These findings highlight the nutritional value of Moringa pods and their therapeutic potential in attenuating inflammation, inhibiting bone formation. Keywords: Anti-inflammation, Bone formation, Calcium production, Moringa oleifera, Moringa pod, Nutritional profile Osteoblast cell and SaOS-2.