Can Moringa Help Improve Gut Microbiome Diversity and Reduce Chronic Inflammation?
On the relationship between gut microbiome diversity and inflammation, a herbicide that can destroy it, and a herb that can help rebuild it
A study titled Moringa oleifera polysaccharide regulates colonic microbiota and immune repertoire in C57BL/6 mice was published on February 15, 2022 in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.
The study investigated the effects of feeding mice a component of moringa leaves for 28 days and found, among other beneficial effects, an increase in gut microbiome diversity and a decrease in serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6).
Being aware of pro-inflammatory properties of IL-6, I am always on the lookout for strategies to keep it low. So, I was happy to have come across this study.
IL-6 is one of the 40+ small secreted molecules known as cytokines. IL-6 is produced by leukocytes (white blood cells) when triggered by microbial substances or vaccine adjuvants. It carries out some of the essential functions in host defense and tissue injury.
But when the production of IL-6 is out of control, the long-term effects are not so pretty. Instead of listing all the bad things IL-6 can do to damage your health, I’ll let you click on the link that leads to a graphical summary from a science paper, so that you can see it for yourself: CLICK HERE
And now that you saw it, I am sure you are as motivated to keep your IL-6 down as I am mine.
But why would IL-6 be up in the absence of an acute infection or injury when it’s not needed?
The trouble starts in the gut. Some bacteria, like E. coli, make a form of endotoxin LPS that is very potent in its ability to trigger leukocytes to produce IL-6, as shown in this study. Increased abundance of commensal E. coli during inflammation was previously noted in human studies and the induction of inflammation was replicated in mice with some strains of E. coli in this study.
E. coli bacteria are resistant to glyphosate (an active ingredient in Roundup), whereas other gut bacteria are not. Glyphosate exposure can be responsible for E. coli overgrowth in the gut, as shown in this rat study. Decades of glyphosate exposure and other gut-wrecking practices have likely taken a toll on our gut microbiome and kept us in a pro-inflammatory state, which is a precursor to chronic disease.
Taking steps, however big or small, toward improving one’s microbiome diversity is a necessary part of reclaiming personal health. And if moringa can get the job done in mice in 28 days, chances are it can benefit human microbiome as well.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.
I like the taste of moringa leaves. Moringa has many medicinal properties. I bought seeds and grow it in a pot pulling leaves off for salads. Cheers and thanks for the information about moringa benefit to a diverse microbiome.
I have heard of some cannabis growers using in in their soil mix . It’s interesting you mention it . In fact , I have found that the regenerative agriculture crowd tends to use a lot of good gut concoctions for good soil micro biome and use on plants as well. I might even wonder what effect the morninga might have on the constitutes of production of cannabinoids , which also have a significant effect of cytokines .