The aim of the study was to investigate the antibacterial and anticoagulant activity of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) seed extracts and coagulant protein for their potential application in water treatment. Pathogenic microorganisms were obtained from Ramachandra Hospital, Chennai, India. Bacterial cell aggregation and growth kinetics studies were employed for six bacterial strains with different concentrations of seed extracts and coagulant protein. Moringa seed extract and coagulant protein showed cell aggregation against six bacterial strains, whereas seed extract alone showed growth inhibition of all six bacterial strains for up to 6 h, compared to that of control. Escherichia coli and Salmonella para typhi B did not develop resistance against coagulant protein. The results imply that Moringa oleifera is likely an efficient low-molecular bioactive peptide (with <7.5 kDa plant-based coagulant and antimicrobial peptides, confirmed by applying amino acid sequences), using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and HPLC, with the corresponding sequences from Napin-1A peptide posing different degrees of antibacterial activity against different pathogenic organisms.
Keywords: Moringa oleifera; bioactive peptide; cell aggregation; clinical pathogens; growth inhibition; seed extract.