A selection of reviews, meta-analyses and official reports, with links, limits and the regulatory framework. We present research as it is — without health promises.
Drug Design, Development and Therapy 2026;20 — doi:10.2147/DDDT.S586556
Narrative review of 22 clinical trials and 9 case reports (2015-2025): promising as a functional food or adjunct for immune and metabolic disorders, but larger standardised randomised trials are still needed.
Klimek-Szczykutowicz M et al. — Frontiers in Pharmacology
Describes the chemical composition (proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, flavonoids), biological activity and safety of the different parts of the tree, with a focus on nutraceutical and cosmetic uses.
PubMed Central (PMC9504211)
2014-2022 overview of ethnomedicinal uses, pharmacological activities and toxicology; acute toxicity in animals is only observed at very high levels (≥ 3,000 mg/kg body weight).
Popoola JO et al. — Journal of Herbmed Pharmacology 9(3):174-190
Systematic review of 63 retained studies (out of 165 identified, 1990-2019): animal toxicity studies and a few human studies reported no adverse effect; the authors call for more rigorous trials.
Stohs SJ, Hartman MJ — Phytotherapy Research
Reviews animal safety studies (high degree of safety for aqueous leaf extracts) and five human studies using whole-leaf powder, looking at blood glucose and lipids. The authors stress the need to standardise products and run more human trials.
Nutrients 2025, 17, 3501 (titre abrégé)
Meta-analysis restricted to randomised trials (adults, supplementation of at least 2 weeks) with a GRADE assessment of certainty of evidence. See the article for figures by outcome.
Phimarn W, Sungthong B, Wichaiyo K — Pharmacognosy Magazine 17(74):373-378
Meta-analysis of 7 trials (257 participants, 28 to 90 days) on blood glucose and lipid profile; an HDL increase (+2.15 mg/dL) is reported and no serious adverse effects were noted. Earlier trial results were described as inconsistent.
Springer — doi:10.1186/s43054-026-00539-y
Pooled effect on milk production (SMD 1.01; 95% CI 0.81-1.21) with a trend toward a larger effect at ≥ 500 mg/day. The authors conclude moringa may complement lactation support, pending higher-quality trials with standardised preparations.
PubMed Central (PMC12294722)
8 randomised trials (3 to 10 days of supplementation): higher milk volume in moringa groups (up to +400 mL/day) and higher prolactin. The authors call for longer studies on dose, duration of effect and safety.
NIH / National Library of Medicine
Reference database on substances and breastfeeding: the most comprehensive meta-analysis (14 studies, 865 subjects) indicates higher prolactin and milk volume; long-term benefit to breastfed infants has not been well studied.
Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science 23(3) — PROSPERO CRD42022304292
Higher haemoglobin (+0.42 g/dL as an adjunct to standard care; +0.65 g/dL alone) with no severe adverse events reported; optimal dose and preparation remain to be determined. Any supplementation during pregnancy requires medical supervision.
Perera C et al. — Journal of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka 28(2)
Six human studies on leaf extracts: improved haemoglobin in anaemic women of reproductive age (mean difference 0.79 g/dL) and in post-menopausal women. Review registered in PROSPERO CRD42020181432.
da Silva Parente TSJ et al. — Frontiers in Pharmacology
Umbrella review of 26 systematic reviews: preclinical (animal model) evidence is abundant; however, few clinical-trial safety data have been published.
Das M et al. — Journal of Herbmed Pharmacology 12(3):331-336
Meta-analysis of 9 studies on oral conditions (periodontitis, gingivitis, caries…): efficacy reported in animal and clinical trials, but not at in-vitro level; further validation needed.
Frontiers in Nutrition — doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.751076
Nutrient profile of leaves, flowers, immature pods and seeds; discusses anti-nutrients and notes that contamination risk assessments (metals, pesticides…) are scarce — hence the importance of traceability and testing.
Pandey P, Khan F — Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Overview of seeds as a natural coagulant: improvement of physico-chemical (turbidity, hardness…) and biological (E. coli) parameters in several studies.
Sustainability 15(5):4280 (MDPI)
Review of the dual coagulant and antimicrobial action of seeds for effluent treatment, mechanisms and preparation methods.
Folkard G, Sutherland J, Shaw R — WELL, Loughborough University
Technical brief from a reference water and sanitation university unit: how to clarify turbid water with seeds (does not replace a potability check).
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
In Australia and New Zealand the authority refused in late 2025 to approve leaves, immature pods and seed oil as a novel food, citing insufficient safety data (abortifacient effects observed in animals, potential genotoxicity, studies not following guidelines). Useful to know for cautious use.
CBI — Ministère néerlandais des Affaires étrangères
European market study: leaves, leaf powder and pods are not considered novel foods in the EU, whereas extracts and seed oil are. The status of other parts (flowers, bark, root, gum…) should be checked in the Novel Food Catalogue.
NutritionInsight, 19/09/2019 (relais du rapport EFSA)
EFSA could not conclude on the safety of Moringa stenopetala leaf powder (a related species) due to missing data on undesirable substances and exposure; it also notes animal studies on anti-fertility / abortifacient effects for some moringa species.
EUR-Lex / DGCCRF
European framework applying to any communication about a food: only claims on the authorised lists may be used; therapeutic claims (preventing, treating or curing a disease) are prohibited for foodstuffs. This is why this site presents studies rather than health promises.
There are thousands of publications on moringa: rather than freezing an incomplete list, these links open always up-to-date PubMed searches (US National Library of Medicine).