Bioassay-guided analysis of an EtOH extract of Moringa oleifera leaves showing hypotensive activity led to the isolation of two nitrile glycosides, niazirin 1 and niazirinin 2, and three mustard oil glycosides, 4-(4'-O-acetyl-alpha-L-rhamnosyloxy)benzylisothiocyanate 4, niaziminin A, and niaziminin B. Glycoside 2 is a new compound. Niaziminins A and B have previously been obtained from the left extract as a mixture, while compound 4 is new from this source. Structural determination was accomplished by means of spectroscopic methods including appropriate 2D nmr experiments and chemical reactions. This is the first report of the isolation of nitriles, an isothiocyanate, and thiocarbamates from the same plant species. Isothiocyanate 4 and the thiocarbamate glycosides niaziminin A and B showed hypotensive activity while nitrile glycosides 1 and 2 were found to be inactive in this regard.
Faizi et al. (1994) studied this question.