Anna Tadevosyan; Mahsa Daryadar; Anahit Tovmasyan; Armenuhi Asatryan; Hamid Reza Roosta; Anahit Hakobjanyan
Abstract
Moringa oleifera Lam. is a well-known medicinal plant and food source. It is rich in bioactive substances, has several pharmacological properties, and is an introduced species to Armenia. This study aimed to evaluate moringa for adaptability to Armenian climatic conditions while assessing its antioxidant ...
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Moringa oleifera Lam. is a well-known medicinal plant and food source. It is rich in bioactive substances, has several pharmacological properties, and is an introduced species to Armenia. This study aimed to evaluate moringa for adaptability to Armenian climatic conditions while assessing its antioxidant and antibacterial activities in different cultivation systems. Moringa plants were grown in soil and hydroponic systems (on specific substrates: volcanic slag, gravel, volcanic slag mixed with gravel). We examined growth characteristics, yield, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial properties. The results showed that moringa can adapt to the Armenian climate. It is important to note that leaf dry mass increased by 1.6-1.7 fold in hydroponic-grown plants compared to soil-grown plants, regardless of the growth substrate. We observed a higher antioxidant activity in plants that grew on gravel only and gravel mixed with volcanic slag substrates. A comparative study of the antibacterial activity of moringa leaf water extract revealed that the plant extract (5000 µg mL-1) in hydroponic conditions suppressed the growth of gram-positive (Enterococcus hirae) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria in 24 hours. Soil-grown plants had similar extracts by concentration that inhibited the growth of gram-negative bacteria. Thus, moringa plants adapted to the Armenian climate. The plants performed better in the hydroponic system than in the soil system. This superiority in performance appeared in plant growth, yield, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial properties.
