Human consumption, nutritional value and health benefits of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.): a review

Authors

  • M. Farid Hossain School of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bangladesh Open University, Gazipur, Bangladesh
  • Sharker M. Numan School of Science and Technology, Bangladesh Open University, Gazipur, Bangladesh
  • Sayeed Saleh Khan Department of Ophthalmology, Monno Medical College and Hospital, Manikgonj, Bangladesh
  • Samiha Mahbub OSB Specialized Eye Hospital, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Shaheen Akhtar Department of Community Medicine, Shahabuddin Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20222229

Keywords:

Drumstick, Food values, Medicinal uses, Antioxidants

Abstract

Moringa is an expeditious-growing evergreen perennial plant and has wide adaptability to grow in different environmental conditions. The nutritive value and medicinal benefits of its leaves, flowers, pods, roots, and stem barks are established by philanthropic research. Edible parts are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other chemical compounds with medicinal properties. The pods and leaves are mainly used as vegetables and ingredients in soups and curries. It is used to boost the nutritional value of food, as well as to boost the immune system and antioxidant levels, lower blood sugar levels and maintain inflammation. Moreover, Moringa leaves flavonoid amelioration of total antioxidant capacity in the lens. Its leaves, pods, and leaf powder contain a high proportion of Vitamin A, which can help to prevent night blindness and eye problems in children.

Author Biographies

M. Farid Hossain, School of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bangladesh Open University, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Professor, School of Agriculture and  Rural Development

Sharker M. Numan, School of Science and Technology, Bangladesh Open University, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Professor (Health Science), School of Science and Technology

Sayeed Saleh Khan, Department of Ophthalmology, Monno Medical College and Hospital, Manikgonj, Bangladesh

Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology

Samiha Mahbub, OSB Specialized Eye Hospital, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Junior Consultant (Eye),  OSB Specialized Eye Hospital

Shaheen Akhtar, Department of Community Medicine, Shahabuddin Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Professor, Department of Community Medicine

References

Fasolin LH, Pereira RN, Pinheiro AC, Martins J, Andrade CCP, Ramos OL, Vicente A. Emergent food proteins- Towards sustainability, health and innovation. Food Res Int. 2019;125:108586.

Mridha MAU. Prospects of Moringa cultivation in Saudi Arabia. J Appl Env Biol Sci. 2015;5(3):39-46.

Sasikala V, Rooban BN, Priya SGS, Sahasranamam V, Abraham A.. Moringa oleifera prevents selenite-induced cataractogenesis in rat pups. J Ocular Pharmacol Therap. 201026:41-7.

Rockwood JL, Anderson BG, Casamatta DA. Potential uses of Moringa oleifera and an examination of antibiotic efficacy conferred by M. oleifera seed and leaf extract using crude extraction techniques available to under-served indigenous populations. Int J Phytotherap Res. 2013;3(2):61-71.

Islam Z, Islam SMR, Hossen F, Islam KMU, Hasan MR, Karim R. Moringa oleifera is a Prominent Source of Nutrients with Potential Health Benefits. Int J Food Science. 2021;1-11.

Sreelatha S, Padma PR. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of Moringa oleifera leaves in two stages of maturity. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition. 2009;64(4):303-11.

Khairallah M, Kahloun R, Bourne R, Limburg H, Flaxman SR, Jonas JB, et al. Number of people blind or visually impaired by cataract worldwide and in world regions, 1990 to 2010. Investig Ophthalmol Visual Sci. 2015;56:6762-9.

Tewari D, Samoila O, Gocan D, Mocan A, Moldovan C, Devkota HP, et al. Medicinal plants and natural products used in cataract management. Front Pharmacol. 2019;10(466):1-22.

Sandhu PS, Singh B, Gupta V, Bansal P, Kumar D.Potential herbs used in ocular diseases. J Pharm Sci Res. 2011;3:1127-40.

Rothe SP, Maheshwari AA. Traditional herbal medicine for ophthalmic diseases used by tribals in melghat region. Sciences. 2016;6:75-8.

Pendota SC, Grierson DS, Afolayan AJ. An ethnobotanical study of plants used for the treatment of eye infections in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Pak J Biol Sci. 2008;11:2051-3.

Islam Z, Islam R, Islam KMU, Islam MR, Karim R. Nutritional properties and hygienic quality of a processed dried organic product from Moringa oleifera leaves. J Agricultural Crop Res. 2021;9(9):222-9.

Liang L, Wang C, Li S, Chu X, Sun K. Nutritional compositions of Indian Moringa oleifera seed and antioxidant activity of its polypeptides. Food Sci Nutrition. 2019;7(5):1754-60.

Anwar F, Ashraf M, Gilani AH. Moringa Oleifera: A food plant with multiples medicinal uses. Phytotherap Res. 2007;21(1):17-25.

Rizwan N, Rizwan D, Banday MT. Moringa oleifera: The Miracle Tree and its Potential as Nonconventional Animal Feed: A Review. Agricultural Rev. 2022.

Foidl N, Makkar HPS, Becker K. The potential use of Moringa oleifera for Agriculture and Industrial uses. Managua, Nicaragua. Moringa oleifera webpage. 2001;1-20.

Chelliah R, Ramakrishnan S, Antony U. Nutritional quality of Moringa oleifera for its bioactivity and antibacterial properties. Int Food Res J. 2017;24(2):825-33.

Aktar S, Das PK, Asha SY, Siddika MA, Islam F, Khanam JA, Rakib MA. Moringa oleifera leaves methanolic extract inhibits angiotensin converting enzyme activity in vitro which ameliorates hypertension. J Adv Biotech Exp Therap. 2019;2(2):73-7.

Fakir MSA, Islam MR, Sagar A, Kashem MA, Rahim MA. Farmers’ knowledge, attitude and practices of moringa as nutritional and medicinal food in ‘Mymensingh’ region of Bangladesh. Acta Horticulturae, 1158. Proceedings I: International Symposium on Moringa. 2017.

Ahmed KS, Jahan IA, Hossain MH, Ethane NJ, Saha B. Mineral and Trace Element Content in Different Parts of Moringa oleifera Grown in Bangladesh. Curr J Appl Sci Technol. 2018;31(5):1-10.

Basuny AM, Al-Marzouq MA. Biochemical studies on Moringa oleifera seed oil. MOJ Food Process Technol. 2016;2(2):40-6.

Sanchez-Machado DI, Nunez-Gastelum JA, Lopez-Cervantes J, Reyes-Moreno C, Ramírez-Wong B. Nutritional Quality of Edible Parts of Moringa oleifera. Food Analytical Methods. 2010;3:175-80.

Guzman-Maldonado SH, Lopez-Manzano MJ, Madera-Santana TJ, Nunez-Colín CA, Grijalva-Verdugo CP, Villa-Lerma AG, Rodríguez-Nunez JR. Nutritional characterization of Moringa oleifera leaves, seeds, husks and flowers from two regions of Mexico. Agronomía Colombiana. 2000;38(2):287-97.

Islam MA, Sheikh A, Waterman C, Hosenuzzaman M. Morphology, pod yield and nutritional quality of two cultivars of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) in Bangladesh. Indian J Sci Technol. 2020;13(37):3893-903.

Busani M, Patrick JM, Arnold H, Voster M. Nutritional characterization of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves. Afr J Biotechnol. 2011;10(60):12925-33.

Oduro I, Ellis WO, Owusu D. Nutritional potential of two leafy vegetables: Moringa oleifera and Ipomoea batatas leaves. Sci Res Essays. 2008;3(2):57-60.

Moyo B, Masika PJ, Hugo A, Muchenje V. Nutritional characterization of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves. Afr J Biotechnol. 2011;10(60):12925-33.

Palada MC, Chang LC. Suggested Cultural Practices for Moringa. International Cooperators Guide. AVRDC publication no. 03-545. 2003.

Milla PG, Penalver R, Nieto G. Health Benefits of Uses and Applications of Moringa oleifera in Bakery Products. Plants. 2018;10:318.

Paikra BK, Dhongade HKJ, Gidwan B. Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Moringa oleifera Lam. J Pharmacopuncture. 2017;20(3):194-200.

Soderberg PG. Experimental cataract induced by ultraviolet radiation. Acta Ophthalmologica supplements. 1990;196:210-308.

Geraldine P, Sneha BB, Elanchezhian R, Ramesh E, Kalavathy CM, Kaliamurthy J, Thomas PA. Prevention of selenite-induced cataractogenesis by acetyl-l-carnitine: An experimental study. Exp Eye Res. 2006;83:1340-9.

Karadi RV, Gadge NB, Alagawadi KR, Savadi RV. Effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. root-wood on ethylene glycol induced urolithiasis in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;105:306-11.

Kushwaha S, Chawla P, Kochhar A. Effect of supplementation of drumstick (Moringa oleifera) and amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) leaves powder on antioxidant profile and oxidative status among postmenopausal women. J Food Sci Technol. 2014;51(11):3464-9.

William F, Lakshminarayanan S, Chegu H. Effect of some Indian vegetables on the glucose and insulin response in diabetic subjects. Int J Food Sci Nutrition.1993;44(3):191-5.

Libby P. Inflammation in atherosclerosis. Nature. 2002;420(6917):868-74.

Anwar F, Rashid U. Physico-chemical characteristics of Moringa oleifera seeds and seed oil from a wild provenance of Pakistan. Pak J Botany. 2007;39:1443-53.

Gowrishankar R, Kumar M, Menon V, Mangala DS, Saravanan M, Magudapathy P, et al. Trace element studies on Tinospora cordifolia (Menispermaceae), Ocimum sanctum (Lamiaceae), Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae), and Phyllanthus niruri (Euphorbiaceae) using PIXE. Biological Trace Elements Res. 2010;133:357-63.

Shah SK, Jhade DN, Chouksey R. Moringa oleifera Lam. A Study of Ethnobotany, Nutrients and Pharmacological Profile. Res J Pharm Biol Chem Sci. 2016;7(5):2159-65.

Mbikay M. Therapeutic Potential of Moringa oleifera Leaves in Chronic Hyperglycemia and Dyslipidemia: A Review. Front Pharmacol. 2012;3:24.

Ashok KN, Pari L. Antioxidant action of Moringa oleifera Lam. (drumstick) against antitubercular drugs induced lipid peroxidation in rats. J Med Food. 2013;6:255-9.

Hamza AA. Ameliorative effects of Moringa oleifera Lam seed extract on liver fibrosis in rats. Food Chem Toxicol. 2010;48:345-55.

Harborne JB. Phytochemical Methods: A Guide to Modern Techniques of Plant Analysis. New Delhi: Springer Private Limited Press. 1998.

Kurmi R, Ganeshpurkar A, Bansal D, Agnihotri A, Dubey N. Ethanol extract of Moringa oliefera prevents in vitro glucose induced cataract on isolated goat eye lens. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2014;62(2):154-7.

Gupta SK, Kumar B, Srinivasan BP, Nag TC, Srivastava S, Saxena R, Aggarwal A. Retinoprotective Effects of Moringa oleifera via Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anti-Angiogenic Mechanisms in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats. J Ocular Pharmacol Therap. 2013;29(4):419-26.

Fugile LJ. The Moringa tree: a local solution to malnutrition. Church World Service in Senegal. 2005;5:75-83.

Caceres A, Cebreva O, Morales P, Miollinedo P, Mendia P. Pharmacological properties of Moringa oleifera1: Preliminary screening for antimicrobial activity. J Ethno-Pharmacol. 1991;33:213-6.

Caceres A, Lopez S. Pharmacological properties of Moringa oleifera: 3. Effect of seed extracts in the treatment of experimental pyodermia. Fitoterapia. 1991;62:449-50.

Fahey JW, Zalcmann AT, Talalay P. The chemical diversi and distribution of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates among plants. Phytochemistry. 2001;56:5-51.

Monera TG, Maponga CC. Prevalence and patterns of Moringa oleifera use among HIV positive patients in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional survey. J Public Health Africa. 2014;3:6-8.

Adeyemi OS, Elebiyo TC. Moringa oleifera supplemented diets prevented nickel-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. J Nutrition Metabolism. 2014;958621.

Sutalangka C, Wattanathorn J, Muchimapura S, Thukham-mee W. Moringa oleifera mitigates memory impairment and neurodegeneration in animal model of agerelated dementia. Oxidative Med Cellular Longevity. 2013;9.

Qi L, Zhou Y, Li W, Zheng M, Zhong R, Jin X, Lin Y. Effect of Moringa oleifera stem extract on hydrogen peroxide-induced opacity of cultured mouse lens. BMC Complement Alternative Med. 2019;19:144.

Downloads

Published

2022-08-26

How to Cite

Hossain, M. F., Numan, S. M., Khan, S. S., Mahbub, S., & Akhtar, S. (2022). Human consumption, nutritional value and health benefits of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.): a review. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 9(9), 3599–3604. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20222229

Issue

Section

Review Articles