Pharmacology, Ethnopharmacology, and Phytochemistry of Medicinally Active Moringa oleifera: A Review

Abstract

Moringa oleifera (MO), which belongs to the family Moringaceae, is a significant medicinal plant that is also one of the species farmed in the greatest quantity worldwide. All its components, including its leaves, roots, seeds, flowers, bark, stems, and green pods, have a wide range of medicinal properties and are exceptionally high in nutritional content. Some of the important medicinal properties of the plant include anticancer, antiasthmatic, antipyretic, antiepileptic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerative, cholesterol-lowering, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, diuretic, CNS depressant, antibacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic, antibiotic, analgesic, antimalarial, antispasmodic, etc. Its nutritional value is attributed to the presence of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, α-carotene, and various phenolic compounds. The purpose of this review is to present a synopsis of the ethnobotany, nutritive, and phytochemical profiles of various parts as well as the pharmacological properties of MO, with a particular emphasis on the several processes that are responsible for its multispectral activity. Additionally, it highlights studies on the safety profile, medication interactions, and relevant clinical trials. MO is used in pharmaceutics as an active extract in metallic nanoparticles and as an excipient in different pharmaceutical products. Other applications related to its water-purifying features, such as biodiesel, biogas, and biopesticide, are also discussed in the present article. Thus, the review provides necessary information proving that each part of MO has beneficial effects, and the plant can be studied extensively for many research aspects.