Emerging Insights into Anticancer Chemopreventive Activities of Nutraceutical Moringa oleifera: Molecular Mechanisms, Signal Transduction and In Vivo Efficacy

The health-beneficial effects of various phytochemicals and nutraceuticals have been known historically especially in ancient systems of medicine such as Indian Ayurvedic Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and African Traditional Medicine for combating cancer, inflammation, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Moringa oleifera Lam., commonly known as the ‘drumstick’ tree, is a cruciferous tree belonging to the Moringaceae family, which shows antiinflammatory, anticancer and nutraceutical properties. The isothiocyanates present in the leaves or leaf extracts have been shown to modulate critical signal transduction pathways involved in cancer. The leaves are also widely used for their nutraceutical benefits in building body fitness and improving overall health. We discuss the phytochemistry, molecular mechanisms for anticancer chemopreventive activity as well as anticancer nanotheranostic formulations of Moringa. Relatively few preclinical and clinical studies have been conducted so far to scientifically establish the anticancer potential of Moringa and these are discussed here. Importantly, the available literature is encouraging and supports the use of Moringa in cancer chemoprevention. Future work needs to focus on appropriately designed clinical trials in cancer patients to systematically evaluate the clinical anticancer potential of Moringa. Taken together, scientific investigation of Moringa isothiocyanates alone, or Moringa leaf powder as a nutraceutical and/or functional food, can open new avenues in discovery research for translating the anticancer benefits of Moringa from bench-to-bedside for cancer prevention. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.