Ethnomedicinal and nutraceutical potentialities of Moringa oleifera: A Review

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is a perennial plant popularly known as ‘Miracle plant’ with great ethnomedicinal, nutritional and economical importance due to high content of nutrients, essential phytochemicals and antioxidants etc. The different parts of these plants such as leaves, flowers, fruits (pods), stem bark, roots, seeds and gum etc are used traditionally as alternative medicines for socially neglected people in addition to uses as good source of food nutrients. This plant contains a high profile of essential minerals, vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fibre, carotenoids, amino acids and antioxidants like flavonoids, polyphenols, ascorbic acid, glycosides and glucosinolates etc. Various parts of this plant possess medicinal properties and act as cardiac stimulant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-tumor, antipyretic, anti-ulcer, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial and anti-fungal agent, anti-asthmatic due to its potential antioxidants and some other phytochemicals. In this background, this review compiles information on the multidimensional uses of Moringa oleifera in respect to its ethnomedicinal and nutraceutical potentialities in order to explore and evaluate for future research opportunities.

Chemical composition of twelve accessions of Moringa oleifera Lam. grown in Mexico.

“…Due to its great adaptability, high carbon sequestration capacity, and tolerance to environmental changes, it represents an alternative for food production in the face of climate change scenarios (Gedefaw, 2015). The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) identified and promoted the potential of moringa to address issues related to food and the prevention of various types of diseases (Shil, 2021). The leaves are consumed in Ethiopia, Nigeria, India, Malawi, East Africa, and Ghana when combined with traditional foods.…”