Abstract:
Anecdotal claims about the therapeutic “miracles” of the plant Moringa stenopetala to various
human diseases are widespread in Ethiopia. However, there are no existing published
systematic reviews to support or refute these assertions. This scoping review aimed to
systematically examine and summarize the range and nature of the literature on potential
and actual therapeutic uses of M. stenopetala in order to identify research gaps and inform
researchers and policymakers. The scoping review used the methodological framework of
Arksey & O'Malley for scoping reviews and recommendations by Levac and colleagues. We
searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, WorldCat, Epistemonikos, and Google Scholar. To
ensure the search was as comprehensive as possible, we also searched grey literature sources
such as OpenGrey. We included studies that attempted to evaluate the therapeutic value of
M. stenopetala on any health outcome in any context. We excluded reports about the effects
of M. stenopetala on non-human health and non-research reports. We screened 2,946 records
and included 56 studies. We found antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antidiabetic,
antioxidants, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory and analgesic, antidyslipedemia, safety
(toxicity, and teratogenic effects), anticancer and fertility studies. All except 4 studies
reported the potential therapeutic effects of M. stenopetala on either one or more infections
or ailments. Two studies reported the absence of antibacterial and antiparasitic activities
and 2 studies reported safety concerns; 1 reported cytotoxic effect while the other reported
the teratogentic effect of the plant at higher doses. No clinical trials were found. The review
found that many claims accorded to M. stenopetala have scientific bases and that the plant
has potential as a possible source of herbal medicinal products. Further studies on the
toxicity of the plant, randomized trials, and pre-requisites for randomized trials such as
good manufacturing practices should be addressed in the future to tap into the therapeutic
potential of the plant
