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Article | Open Access

Exploring the material basis and mechanism of Moringa oleifera in alleviating slow transit constipation based on network pharmacology and animal models

Sijin Lia,b,1, Xiaoyu Gaoa,b,1, Kaifeng Guob,c, Shuangfeng Liub,c, Weiqian Yangb,c, Yan Zhaod, Jun Shengc(), Zhongbin Baie(), Yang Tiana,b,c()
Yunnan Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Personalized Food Manufacturing, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650500, China
College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650500, China
Engineering Research Center of Development and Utilization of Food and Drug Homologous Resources, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
Department of Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China

1 These authors have contributed equally to this work.

Peer review under responsibility of Beijing Academy of Food Sciences.

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Highlights

• The active part of M. oleifera in promoting defecation is ASP, not APP.

• It was found for the first time that Phe is the key active composition of M. oleifera leaves.

• Phe can relieve constipation by regulating key nodes in the GPCR-MLC signaling pathway.

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Abstract

Moringa oleifera have laxative effects, but their active compositions and mechanisms are not very clear thus far. To this end, we systematically explored the active components and mechanism of M. oleifera leaves in relieving constipation by using the slow transit constipation (STC) mouse model and network pharmacology. The results of animal experiments showed that M. oleifera aqueous extract (MOA) had good laxative activity, and its 70% alcohol soluble part (ASP) also showed significant laxative activity (P < 0.01). Network pharmacological prediction results suggested that L-phenylalanine (Phe) was the key compound of ASP, and it might relieve constipation through tachykinin receptor 1 (TACR1) and three kinds of adrenergic receptors, including α1A (ADRA1A), α2A (ADRA2A), and α2B (ADRA2B). Further animal experiment results showed that Phe significantly promoted gastrointestinal motility. Phe may relieve STC by enhancing the release of substance P (SP) and upregulating the mRNA expression of TACR1 in the ileum. Importantly, Phe may also promote intestinal movement by downregulating the mRNA expression of ADRA2A and ADRA2B and upregulating the mRNA expression of Calm and the mRNA and protein expression of myosin light chain 9 in the ileum, thereby activating the G protein-coupled receptor-myosin light chain signaling pathway. These results lay a foundation for the application of M. oleifera and Phe in constipation.

Keywords

Moringa oleiferaNetwork pharmacologyL-phenylalanineGastrointestinal motilityLaxative

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Food Science and Human Wellness
Volume 14 Issue 3,
March 2025
Article number: 9250059
DOI: 10.26599/FSHW.2024.9250059
Cite this article:
Li S, Gao X, Guo K, et al. Exploring the material basis and mechanism of Moringa oleifera in alleviating slow transit constipation based on network pharmacology and animal models. Food Science and Human Wellness, 2025, 14(3): 9250059. https://doi.org/10.26599/FSHW.2024.9250059
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