Graphical Abstract

Potential Of Moringa Oleifera In Pharmaceutical Drug Delivery

Search Strategy

A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies focusing on the utilization of moringa oleifera in novel drug delivery system (NDDS), with particular emphasis on the floating and controlled release drug delivery system (CRDDS) etc. Major electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, were searched. The following keywords and their combinations were used: “Moringa oleifera,” “natural excipient,” “sustained release, tablet binder,” “pharmaceutical polymer.” And “nanoparticles,” Boolean operators (AND, OR) were applied to refine the search.

Inclusion Criteria

Studies were included if they met the following conditions:

1.        Focuses on the latest work done on moringa oleifera in the field of pharmacy.

2.       Focused on novel drug delivery systems. (e.g., nanoparticle, hydrogels and nanofiber).

3.       Focused on CRDDS.

4.       Addressed colon targeted or mucoadhesive drug delivery approaches.

5.       Published in peer-reviewed journals in the English language.

Exclusion Criteria

Studies were excluded if they:

1.        Were unrelated to novel-based drug delivery.

2.       Did not involve any disease diagnosis or therapy.

3.       Were non-English publications.

4.       Studies without full-text availability.

5.       Case reports, letters, editorials, and commentaries

Source And Composition of Moringa Gum

Moringa gum contains phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, vitamins, and tannins, which impart diverse bioactive properties, including anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities [9]. Moringa gum is a natural polysaccharide obtained as an exudate from the bark of the Moringa oleifera tree. The gum can be collected by making incisions on the trunk or from natural exudation and is typically dried and powdered for use[4]. Chemically, it is a complex heteropolysaccharide rich in sugars such as galactose, arabinose, and xylose, with smaller amounts of rhamnose and uronic acids[10]. For example, one analysis reported Moringa gum to contain approximately 41–42% galactose, 25–27% arabinose, 25–26% xylose, and a few percent rhamnose and uronic acids[11]. This sugar composition is somewhat similar to other plant exudate gums (like gum arabic), which explains many of its functional properties. The molecular weight of Moringa gum is high (on the order of 106 Da), and it forms viscous colloidal dispersions when mixed with water[4]. The gum is only sparingly soluble in cold water, but it swells considerably upon hydration, yielding a thick mucilage. This swelling behaviour is critical for its roles as a binder, disintegrant, and controlled-release matrix.

Moringa gum typically appears as a light to reddish-brown, amorphous powder that is odorless and tasteless, making it suitable for oral formulations shown in Fig. 1[6]. It contains various functional groups (hydroxyl and carboxylate group on the polysaccharide backbone) that facilitate hydrogen bonding and gel formation in aqueous environments. These same functional groups also make the gum amenable to chemical derivatization[12]. Physicochemical characterizations have shown that Moringa gum exhibits thermal stability and a high glass transition temperature, indicating it can withstand typical processing conditions like drying or compression[7]. The gum’s rheological properties are comparable to other pharmaceutical gums; it acts as a viscosity enhancer in solution and can form films upon drying. Importantly, Moringa gum is biocompatible and non-toxic, as evidenced by its long history of use in traditional medicine and food – attributes which carry over to its pharmaceutical use[4]. Overall, the composition and innate properties of Moringa gum provide a foundation for its multifunctional performance as an excipient.

Fig. 1. Moringa oleifera

Pharmaceutical Applications of Moringa Gum Shown In Fig. 2.

Fig. 2. Illustration Of Use Of Moringa Oleifera In Pharmaceutical Formulation

Oral Solid Dosage Forms - Tablets And Capsules

Binder Behaviour

One of the primary uses of Moringa gum in pharmaceutics is in oral solid dosage forms such as tablets. It has been investigated both as a binder (to impart tablet hardness and cohesion) and as a disintegrant (to facilitate tablet break-up in fluids). Studies have shown that Moringa gum can effectively bind powder particles into tablets with satisfactory hardness and low friability, comparable to standard binders like starch or polyvinylpyrrolidone [10]. For instance, tablets of paracetamol prepared using Moringa gum as a binder (at 8–12% w/w) demonstrated increasing hardness and decreasing friability with higher gum concentration, compared with tablets using gelatin as a binder. Notably, increasing the binder level of Moringa gum in those formulation slowed the tablet’s drug dissolution rate, suggesting that at higher concentrations it can act as a release retardant [13]. This implies a dual functionality a moderate amount of gum provides binding without impeding release, whereas a higher amount can be leveraged for sustained-release tablet matrices[4].

Disintegrant Efficiency

As a disintegrant, Moringa gum in lower concentrations (around 2–5% w/w) has shown promising results in speeding up tablet disintegration. Its ability to swell and quick water uptake contributes to rapid break-up of tablets in the gastrointestinal fluid[14]. In a comparative study, metoprolol tablets formulated with Moringa gum (as a disintegrant) disintegrated in approximately 90 seconds, which was faster or comparable to tablets formulated with synthetic super-disintegrants like croscarmellose sodium or crospovidone. The fast disintegration translated into quick drug release, with one formulation releasing ~97% of the drug within 2 minutes when Moringa gum was combined with a small amount of sodium starch glycolate. Such performance underscores the potential of Moringa gum as a natural super disintegrant [15]. Mechanistically, the gum particles rapidly hydrate and expand, causing the tablet to burst apart and liberate the active drug. This property is highly desirable for fast-dissolving and oral dispersible tablet formulations[3][16].

Matrix-Forming Role

Beyond immediate-release uses, moringa gum can serve as a matrix-forming agent in sustained-release tablets. Its swelling and gelling behaviour can prolong the release of drugs by forming a viscous diffusion barrier. Researchers have formulated gastro-retentive floating tablets using Moringa gum as a key polymer, aiming to retain the dosage form in the stomach and slowly release the drug as shown in Fig.3[17]. In one such study, esomeprazole floating tablets containing Moringa gum exhibited a regulated, near-linear drug release profile over 12 hours, delivering about 96% of the drug in that period. This release was more uniform compared to similar formulations made with some other natural polymers[18]. For example, tablets with Moringa gum achieved a final release of 96%, whereas those with neem (Azadirachta) gum released ~89% and xanthan gum ~93% in the same time frame [19]. The comparison indicates that Moringa gum’s matrix might maintain integrity and gel structure better, preventing premature drug dumping (it matched the performance of sodium alginate, another common sustained-release polymer, which also released ~96% by 12 hours). The floating capability of those tablets (achieved by incorporating gas-generating agents) was supported by Moringa gum’s gel, which kept them buoyant for the full duration, thus enhancing gastric retention[18]. Fig. 3 illustrates the drug release profiles of esomeprazole tablets prepared with different natural polymers, highlighting Moringa gum’s effective CRDDS performance[17]

Figure 3: In vitro drug release profiles of esomeprazole floating tablets formulated with different natural polymers (Moringa gum, sodium alginate, xanthan gum, and neem gum). Moringa gum achieved a nearly complete and uniform drug release (~96% in 12 hours), comparable to alginate and superior to neem and xanthan gum in sustaining drug release (Data adapted from Ghadge et al., 2024). Reproduced with permission of Ghadge et al.

Comparative Release Performance

In capsule and tablet formulations, Moringa gum can similarly be used as a binder or as a granulating agent to prepare sustained-release granules. Its film-forming ability allows it to coat drug particles or granules, modulating drug release[20]. Additionally, Moringa gum has been co-processed with other excipients to create multifunctional composite excipients for tablets. Such co-processing can improve powder flow and compressibility while retaining the gum’s disintegration and binding functions[4]. Overall, in oral solid dosage forms, Moringa gum offers flexibility: at low usage levels it can speed up release (for immediate-release needs), and at higher levels or in combination with other matrix formers, it can slow down release (for sustained-release profiles). This tunable behaviour is a major advantage of this natural excipient[19].

Colon-Targeted Drug Delivery System (CTDDS)

Natural polysaccharides like Moringa gum are particularly attractive for colon-targeted drug delivery because they are generally resistant to digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract but can be degraded by the colonic microflora. Moringa gum, being composed of complex carbohydrates, passes through the stomach and small intestine largely intact[10]. In the colon, however, resident anaerobic bacteria produce glycosidase enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) that can cleave polysaccharides such as Moringa gum, leading to breakdown of the gum matrix and triggered drug release. Formulators have exploited this property by using Moringa gum as a protective coating or binder in colon-targeted systems[21].

A representative study involved compression-coated tablets of the anticancer drug capecitabine, where an outer coat composed of Moringa gum mixed with HPMC was applied to a drug core tablet[10]. The goal was for the coat to prevent drug release in the stomach/small intestine and then be enzymatically degraded in the colon to release the drug where it is needed for local action (colon tumors). The results were very promising: the Moringa gum-based coat was able to restrict drug release in simulated upper GI conditions to less than 10% in 5 hours (which would correspond to the transit through stomach and small intestine)[21]. Once the system was exposed to colonic conditions (simulated by adding rat cecal contents rich in bacteria), the coat underwent degradation and a rapid, complete drug release was observed in the colon environment[10]. This demonstrates that Moringa gum can function as a microbially-triggered colon release carrier. The enzymatic action on the gum effectively timed the release to occur primarily in the colon.

An additional advantage noted was that Moringa gum is naturally pH-insensitive (unlike some enteric polymers that only dissolve at high pH); it relies on microbial presence. This ensures that even if the pH in parts of the colon is variable, the mechanism (bacterial degradation) remains reliable. The colon-targeted tablets in the study maintain integrity through acidic and neutral pH, and only broke down when exposed to the colonic enzymes[10]. This approach could be valuable not only for delivering anticancer drugs to colonic tumors but also for treating local inflammatory conditions like ulcerative colitis, where a drug (e.g., 5-aminosalicylic acid or corticosteroids) needs to be released in the colon. Moringa gum’s film-forming and matrix-forming capabilities, combined with its biodegradability by colonic flora, make it a strong candidate for these applications[22].

Mucoadhesive Delivery Systems

Moringa gum also shows potential in mucoadhesive drug delivery, where prolonged adhesion to mucosal surfaces (such as the buccal cavity, nasal, or gastric mucosa) can be used to sustain drug absorption at a localized site[7]. Many plant gums are inherently mucoadhesive due to their molecular structure and ability to form gels that adhere to the mucus layer. Moringa gum is no exception – it swells into a sticky, viscous mass that can cling to mucosal tissues, thereby prolonging the residence time of a dosage form[17]. This mucoadhesive property has been explored especially for buccal tablets or films, which adhere to the inner cheek or gum to permit direct absorption of drugs through the oral mucosa.

Native Moringa gum provides moderate mucoadhesion, but researchers have enhanced this property via thiolation. Thiolated polymers (thiomers) form covalent disulfide bonds with cysteine-rich subdomains of mucus, leading to much stronger and longer-lasting attachment. In one study, Moringa gum was chemically modified by attaching thiol groups to it, yielding a thiolated Moringa gum with significantly improved mucoadhesive strength[12]. This thiolated gum (often called a bioadhesive polymer) was tested for adhesion time and force: it showed a marked increase in adhesion to porcine gastric mucosa compared to unmodified Moringa gum. The improvement is attributed to the formation of disulfide bonds between the thiol groups on the modified gum and the glycoprotein mucin in mucus[11]. Formulations developed with thiolated Moringa gum – for example, buccal tablets – demonstrated not only stronger adhesion but also a slower drug release (since the gum swells and remains in place, releasing drug gradually at the site of absorption).

Another approach has been grafting co- polymerization of Moringa gum with synthetic polymers to improve mucoadhesion and film properties. A notable example is grafting Moringa gum with poly N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (PVP) to create a composite that was investigated as a Bucco adhesive film base[23]. The grafted Moringa-PVP polymer combined the flexibility and film-forming smoothness of PVP with the natural adhesiveness of the gum. Buccal films made from this graft copolymer were found to adhere well to buccal mucosa and could potentially deliver drugs like anti-anginal or analgesics through the cheek lining over extended periods[18]. These studies suggest that Moringa gum, especially in modified forms, is a viable mucoadhesive excipient that could be applied to buccal, sublingual, periodontal, nasal, or even vaginal drug delivery systems where localized, prolonged drug presence is desired.

Importantly, using Moringa gum in mucoadhesive systems also taps into its other beneficial properties – for instance, its antioxidant and antimicrobial activity noted in crude form might confer additional therapeutic or preservative effects in a formulation[24]. While these bioactivities are ancillary, they complement mucoadhesive drug delivery by potentially improving the stability of the formulation or the health of the mucosal tissue during therapy.

Novel Drug Delivery Systems And Formulations

The versatility of Moringa gum extends to several novel and advanced drug delivery systems. Researchers have been creative in deriving new materials from Moringa gum or incorporating it into modern formulation types:

·       Hydrogels And Semi-Solid Systems:  Recent studies reported that physical and chemical modifications of the Moringa gum polysaccharide aided in development of hydrogels with biomedical applications such as wound dressings. Because Moringa gum can crosslink (either physically or chemically) to form 3-dimensional networks, it has been used in hydrogel formulations. Hydrogels made from Moringa gum are water-swollen networks that can encapsulate drugs and release them slowly. For example, Singh and Kumar (2021) prepared hydrogels by radiation-induced crosslinking of Moringa gum. In one case, acrylamide monomers were graft-polymerized onto Moringa gum and crosslinked to create a hydrogel matrix[25]. These hydrogels showed enormous swelling (on the order of 1000%+ of their dry weight in water) and were able to load and release drugs in a controlled manner. The drug release kinetics from such Moringa-based hydrogels often follow a diffusion-controlled mechanism (e.g., Peppas–Sahlin kinetics), indicating a combination of diffusion through the swollen matrix and relaxation of the polymer network controlling the release[26]. Such hydrogels have potential applications in oral controlled release, as gastric-retentive gels, or in topical wound care.

·       Wound Dressing And Transdermal Patches: Wound healing is a remarkable and intricate biological process that the body initiates in response to injury, aiming to restore tissue integrity and function. It progresses through four overlapping and interdependent phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and maturation[27]. A specific application of Moringa gum hydrogels is in wound dressings. Singh and Sharma (2021) designed a composite hydrogel dressing by blending Moringa gum with Sterculia gum and polyacrylamide, aiming for a material that can keep a wound moist and gradually release antiseptic or therapeutic agents[25].

The Moringa-containing hydrogel was evaluated for use as a wound dressing, and it was found to have good fluid absorption (to absorb exudate), acceptable gel strength, and the ability to release loaded drugs over several hours[28]. Additionally, the inherent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of Moringa gum could be advantageous in wound healing, helping to reduce infection and oxidative stress at the wound site. Although this is a relatively new area of exploration, it showcases the gum’s utility beyond oral dosage forms, into transdermal and tissue engineering realms[24].

·       Nanoparticles And Nanofibers: Moringa gum has been processed into bio nanofibers and nanoparticles for drug delivery applications. Mehetre et al. (2015) reported the isolation of nanofibers from Moringa gum by acid hydrolysis and sonication. These Moringa gum nanofibers, with diameters on the order of ~100×10-9 m, present a high surface area platform for drug loading[29]. Such nanofibers can be incorporated into films, scaffolds, or microparticles to improve drug dispersion and modulate release rates. Likewise, chemical modifications like carboxymethylation of Moringa gum have yielded derivatives that self-assemble into nanostructures or can be crosslinked into nanoparticles (Ahuja, 2017). Carboxymethyl Moringa gum has enhanced solubility in water and can form polyelectrolyte complexes; it was evaluated as a nanometric drug carrier and found to efficiently encapsulate certain drugs[30]. The development of nanoscale excipients from Moringa gum is particularly interesting for delivering poorly water-soluble drugs, proteins, or genes, where traditional excipients often fall short in required functionality[31].

·       Microencapsulation And Emulsions: The emulsifying property of Moringa gum has found use in microencapsulation techniques. In the food technology field, Moringa gum has been used as a natural encapsulating agent to spray-dry sensitive liquids[30]. In pharmaceuticals, this translates to the ability to stabilize emulsions or suspension formulations. Moringa gum can act as a surface-active stabilizer for oil-in-water emulsions, similar to gum acacia, thereby being useful in the preparation of emulsion-based dosage forms or in encapsulating lipophilic drugs into a dry powder form via spray drying. While detailed pharmaceutical studies on Moringa gum in emulsions are still limited, its successful application in other industries suggests a strong potential. It is reasonable to expect that Moringa gum could be used to formulate nutrient emulsions, flavour oils in soft gelatin capsules, or as a suspending agent in oral suspensions to keep insoluble drug particles uniformly dispersed[3][6]. In fact, traditional practices have reportedly used Moringa gum as a stabilizer in herbal mixtures, implying its capability to maintain homogeneity in liquids. Although microencapsulation and emulsion systems show promise for drug delivery, limited pharmaceutical studies warrant further investigation to establish mechanistic insights, regulatory acceptance, and clinical translation.

A summary of various pharmaceutical applications of Moringa gum, along with its role and key findings from recent studies, is presented in Table 1. This illustrates the breadth of formulation types where Moringa gum has been successfully utilized or evaluated.

Table 1: Applications of Moringa Gum in Pharmaceutical Formulations (2015–2025)