Nutritional and Medicinal value of Moringa oleifera

Abstract

Moringa oleifera Lam is a highly valued plant which is found in many countries of the tropics and subtropics. All the parts of this tree are useful either for nutritional or Medicinal purposes. Various parts of this plant such as the leaves, roots, seed, bark, fruit, flowers and immature pods act as cardiac and circulatory stimulants, possess antitumor, anti inflammatory, antihypertensive, cholesterol lowering and antifungal activities and are being employed for the treatment of different ailments in the indigenous system of medicine, particularly in South Asia. For cooking, usually leaves, flowers and Pods are used. They possess miraculous health benefits. Bark and roots are used in traditional medicines. This tree has small leaves, white flowers and seed pods which are long, slender and triangular resembling drumsticks so this tree is also known as Drumsticks in English. Different parts of Moringa oleifera contain important minerals and are a good source of proteins, vitamins, beta-carotene, amino acids and various phenolics. Moringa oleifera provides a rich and rare combination of zeatin, quercetin, beta-sitosterol, caffeoylquinic acid and kaempferol.