Moringa oil, extracted from the seeds of the moringa oleifera tree, has long been touted for its potential health benefits. A 2020 study aimed to investigate the topical effects of moringa oleifera seed oil in animal models for inflammatory and hyperproliferative skin conditions.
The study found that both moringa oleifera seed oil and its main component, oleic acid, demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects in various animal models of skin inflammation, including irritative contact dermatitis, acute and chronic skin inflammation, and epidermal hyperplasia. The study also found that moringa oil and oleic acid can help to stop neutrophils from getting into inflamed skin, which could help reduce skin damage.
These effects were related to the glucocorticoid receptor, indicating that moringa oil and oleic acid may act in a similar manner to glucocorticoid medications that are commonly used to treat inflammatory skin conditions. Importantly, moringa oil did not cause any adverse side effects on the skin or the immune system, unlike glucocorticoids which can cause skin atrophy and immune suppression with prolonged use.
Overall, these findings highlight the therapeutic potential of moringa oil as a topical anti-inflammatory agent in inflammatory skin diseases.
Study Title: Expanding the anti-inflammatory potential of Moringa oleifera: topical effect of seed oil on skin inflammation and hyperproliferation
Study Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32142866