Phytonutrient and Pharmacological Significance of Moringa oleifera

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is a small, fast growing evergreen or deciduous tree. Moringa is rich in nutrition owing the presence of a variety of essential phytochemicals present in its leaves, pods and seeds. In fact, phytonutrient content of Moringa leaves (weight per weight) provides 7 times more vitamin C than in oranges, 10 times more vitamin A than carrots, 17 times more calcium content than milk, 9 times more protein than yoghurt, 15 times more potassium than bananas and 25 times more iron than in spinach. As numerous parts of Moringa oleifera plant such as roots, seed, bark, leaves, fruit, and immature pods, flowers act as cardiac and circulatory drugs, anti-pyretic, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, antiepileptic properties Moringa is called as Multipurpose Tree or “The Miracle Tree of Life”. Moringa also contains phytochemicals such as tannins, sterols, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, anthraquinones, alkaloids and reducing sugar present along with anti-cancerous agents like glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, glycoside compounds, and glycerol-1-9-octadecanoate respectively. The other chief medicinal properties of the plant include antispasmodic, diuretic, antihypertensive, cholesterol lowering hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antibacterial and antifungal activities. Key-wordsAnti-pyretic, Anti-ulcer, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-epileptic, Anti-oxidant, Anti-diabetic INTRODUCTION Moringa oleifera Lam. (Family: Moringaceae) Moringa oleifera is a medium sized tree, growing in Asia, Africa and tropical areas of the world as a valuable food source [1] . Moringa is a fast growing tree with about 10m in height and a diameter of 2.04m at chest height [2] . It has a soft trunk, white corky; and a gummy bark bearing branches with each twice or thrice pinnate-compound leaf bearing small leaf leg. The flowers are pleasantly fragrant, white in color whereas the three wing seeds are scattered by the winds. The flowers, tenders leaves and pods are eaten as vegetables [3] . India being the largest producer of Moringa has an annual production of 1.1 to 1.3 million tones of tender fruits from an area of 380 km2 [4] . The various parts of Moringa oleifera tree have been studied for several pharmacological actions. Many reports have described its leaves have antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-fertility, relieving pain, central nervous system depressant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and regulating hypothyroidism. Access this article online Quick Response Code Website: