Mineral content of Moringa OleiferaLeaves and Its Utilization in Controlling Blood Glucose Level in Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

Abstract

Moringa oleifera Lam. tree grows in many tropical and subtropical countries. The seed, leaves, root and flowers of M. oleifera are often used in traditional medicine, while the immature pods, leaves and seed are used as nutrition products in human food. This study carried out proximate analysis for mineral elements assessment in dried M.oleifera leaves. Fresh leaves of M. oleifera lam were plucked from M. oleiferatrees inRiver Nile State (Atbara Town). Analyzed for the mineral element content using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Leaves powder of M. oleifera digested with nitric acid solution before determining concentrations of mineral elements. By using (AAS) mineral elementsconcentrationsdecrease in the order: "Ca (585.10ppm) > Mg (117.0ppm) > K (62.39ppm) > Na (24.05ppm) > Fe (22.94ppm) > Zn (1.854ppm) > Mn (1.015ppm) > Cu (0.336ppm) Cr (0.017ppm)" Pb and Ni not detected. By using (ICP) mineral elements concentrations decrease in the order: "Ca (46560ppm) > Mg (14140ppm) > K (12620ppm) > Al (1491ppm) > Fe (1401ppm) > Na (913ppm) > Si (526.00ppm) > Sr (113.30ppm) > Ti (71.65ppm) > Mn (61.69ppm) > Ba (14.78ppm) > Zn (13.76ppm) > Cu (13.43ppm) > Li (7.128ppm) > Mo (4.88ppm) > V (3.342ppm) > Cr (2.086ppm) > Ni (1.919ppm) > Pb (1.547ppm) > Be (0.0207ppm)". Mineral elements contentof leaves powder determining using inductively coupled plasma into the microwave digestion of plant tissue in an open vessel. Concentrations of mineral elements decrease in the order: "Ca (54450ppm) > K (16370ppm) > Mg (16250ppm) > Al (1426ppm) > Fe (1402ppm) > Si (1804ppm) >Na (960.6ppm) > Sr (118.3ppm) > Mn (76.52ppm) > Ti (25.95ppm) > Zn (19.21ppm) Ba (17.21ppm) > Cu (10.54ppm) > Pb (6.463ppm) > Mo (5.436ppm) > Li (4.190ppm) > V (3.022ppm) >Cr (2.484ppm) > Ni (2.081) > Be (0.0257ppm)". The results showed no difference formineral elements concentrations by two different methods when using (ICP), butby using (AAS) mineral elementsconcentrations were less compared to concentrations by using (ICP). On the other hand this study aims to investigate the effects of M. oleifera leaves powder on the blood glucose in humans, and determine suitable quantity of powder to use. The study targeted patients who their blood glucose not lowering by drugs. Eighty three volunteers of diabetic patients were divided into three groups. Three doses 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 g of M. oleifera leaves powder were taken by group 1, 2 and 3, respectively for a month. Blood sugar levels for all patients was determined before and after usingM.oleifera leaves powder. Results showed blood sugar levels decreased statistically significant (p<0.001) for all patients. Results indicated M. oleifera leaves powder is promising to reduce the diabetic complications in diabetic patients, and suitable dose to consume to reduce blood glucose for diabetic patients who their blood glucose levels not lowering with drugs is 0.5g. This study investigated side effect for using M. oleifera leaves powder to liver and kidney. Urea, creatinine, ALT and AST enzyme for diabetic patients was determined before and after usingM. oleifera leaves powder. The results indicated no statistically significant difference in the mean values of urea creatinine, ALT and AST before and after takenM. oleifera leaves powder (p˃0.001). This study indicated the leaves of M. oleifera is rich in essential minerals needed by the body’s health.