This Mystical Leaf Can Ward Off Human 'Apocalypse', Commonly Found in Indonesia
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Plastic pollution threatening human health has found a ray of hope following a recent study uncovering the extraordinary capabilities of the Moringa oleifera tree, nicknamed the “miracle tree”. This plant, synonymous with mysticism in Indonesia and renowned for its nutritional richness, has proven highly efficient in removing microplastic content from drinking water.
Citing a CNN International report, a team of scientists from Brazil and the UK discovered that seed extracts from this fast-growing tree are as effective as commercial chemicals in filtering microplastics. The research, published in April 2026, highlights the significant potential of natural materials as substitutes for chemical coagulants in water treatment systems.
Adriano Gonçalves dos Reis, the study’s lead author and professor at the Institute of Science and Technology at São Paulo State University, explained that the Moringa tree has actually been used to purify water for thousands of years by ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian civilisations. Together with his colleagues, dos Reis has researched Moringa seeds for a decade as a natural “coagulant” capable of making small particles in water clump together for easy filtration.
“Those things are so small that I can’t even see them, but microplastics have been found everywhere from the deep sea to towering mountains,” the report stated, highlighting the dangers of particles that can contaminate the human body, including the brain and reproductive system, as quoted on Thursday (30/4/2026).
In this specific study, the researchers focused testing on PVC-type microplastics, known as one of the most hazardous and commonly found in tap water. They tested particles averaging 18.8 micrometres in size—about a quarter the thickness of a human hair—and found astonishing results in the filtration system.
“Moringa seed extract is 98.5% effective at removing microplastics from tap water when used in a filtration system,” said Gonçalves dos Reis, explaining the efficiency comparable to aluminium sulphate or alum commonly used in water treatment facilities.
The main advantage of using Moringa seeds over alum is their renewable nature, biodegradability, and lack of producing large amounts of sludge waste. Additionally, using natural seeds reduces toxicity risks, as high levels of aluminium are often linked to neurodegenerative diseases.
Matthew Campen, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, who was not involved in the research, offered his perspective on the economic value of this discovery. According to him, replacing aluminium-based filtration systems with natural products could have a positive environmental impact.
“Using natural products to replace aluminium-based filtration systems may offer a cheaper and more sustainable solution for removing PVC microplastics,” said Campen.
Nevertheless, this research still has limitations for large-scale application because one Moringa seed can only treat about 10 litres of water. This means a massive quantity of seeds would be needed for water treatment plants in large urban areas with high water flows.
“Although this is promising, it would require a very large number of seeds for large urban treatment plants. This technique may be most useful for small communities or places where chemical coagulants are hard to access,” added Gonçalves dos Reis.
Further research is still needed to understand how Moringa seed extracts break down, what happens to the captured PVC, and the cost-effectiveness of the method if applied on a massive scale. Campen emphasised the importance of finding microplastic solutions now because human exposure to plastic particles is predicted not to change for several decades to come.
Meanwhile, in Indonesia, Moringa plants are already being cultivated for economic purposes in both rural and urban areas. According to LPEI data from January to September 2024, Moringa-based exports had a volume of 4,350 tonnes valued at US$13.75 million, with main markets from Indonesia to China, Malaysia, Japan, and the Middle East.