Accepted Manuscript

Title: Moringa Oleifera: A Review on Nutritive Importance

and its Medicinal Application

Author: Lakshmipriya Gopalakrishnan Kruthi Doriya Devarai

Santhosh Kumar

PII: S2213-4530(16)30036-2
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.fshw.2016.04.001
Reference: FSHW 81

To appear in:

Received date: 2-1-2016

Revised date: 23-2-2016
Accepted date: 3-4-2016

Please cite this article as: L. Gopalakrishnan, K. Doriya, D.S. Kumar, Moringa Oleifera:
A Review on Nutritive Importance and its Medicinal Application, Food Science and
Human Wellness (2016), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fshw.2016.04.001

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Moringa Oleifera: A Review on Nutritive Importance and its Medicinal Application

Lakshmipriya Gopalakrishnan2, Kruthi Doriya1 and Devarai Santhosh Kumar*1

1
Department of Chemical Engineering, Ordnance Factory Estate, Yeddumailaram, Indian

Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Telangana, India

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2
Department of Biotechnology, PES University, Bangalore, India

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Abstract

Moringa Oleifera, native to India, grows in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

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It is commonly known as ‘drumstick tree’ or ‘horseradish tree’. Moringa can withstand both

severe drought and mild frost conditions and hence widely cultivated across the world. With

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its high nutritive values, every part of the tree is suitable for either nutritional or commercial

purposes. The leaves are rich in minerals, vitamins and other essential phytochemicals.
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Extracts from the leaves are used to treat malnutrition, augment breast milk in lactating

mothers. It is used as potential antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and

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antimicrobial agent. Moringa Oleifera seed, a natural coagulant is extensively used in water
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treatment. The scientific effort of this research provides insights on the use of moringa as a
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cure for diabetes and cancer and fortification of moringa in commercial products. This review
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explores the use of moringa across disciplines for its medicinal value and deals with

cultivation, nutrition, commercial and prominent pharmacological properties of this “Miracle

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Tree”.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera, Miracle Tree, Antidiabetic, Anticancer, Coagulant.

Abbreviations

AGE-Advanced glycated end products

Page 1 of 29
ATP-Adenosine Tri-phosphate

BITC-Benzyl isothiocyanate

RAGE-Receptor for advanced glycated end products

ROS- Reactive oxygen species

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STZ-Streptozotocin

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*Devarai Santhosh Kumar

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Assistant Professor

Room No: 530

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Department of Chemical Engineering

IIT Hyderabad, Kandi Campus

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Medak Dist, Telangana

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India, Tel: 040-23017122; Fax: 040-23016032

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E-mail: [email protected]
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1.1. Introduction

Moringa oleifera belonging to the family of Moringaceae is an effective remedy for

malnutrition. Moringa is rich in nutrition owing to the presence of a variety of essential

phytochemicals present in its leaves, pods and seeds. In fact, moringa is said to provide 7

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times more vitamin C than oranges, 10 times more vitamin A than carrots, 17 times more

calcium than milk, 9 times more protein than yoghurt, 15 times more potassium than bananas

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and 25 times more iron than spinach [1]. The fact that moringa is easily cultivable makes it a

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sustainable remedy for malnutrition. Countries like Senegal and Benin treat children with

moringa [2]. Children deprived of breast milk tend to show symptoms of malnutrition.

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Lactogogues are generally prescribed to lactating mothers to augment milk production. The

lactogogue, made of phytosterols, acts as a precursor for hormones required for reproductive
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growth. Moringa is rich in phytosterols like stigmasterol, sitosterol and kampesterol which

are precursors for hormones. These compounds increase the estrogen production, which in
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turn stimulates the proliferation of the mammary gland ducts to produce milk. It is used to
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treat malnutrition in children younger than 3 years [3]. About 6 spoonfuls of leaf powder can
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meet a woman’s daily iron and calcium requirements, during pregnancy. This study provides
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an overview on the cultivation, nutritional values, medicinal properties for commercial use

and pharmacological properties of moringa. There are no elaborate reports on treatment of

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diabetes and cancer using moringa. This study aims to bridge the gap.

1.2. Plantation and Soil conditions

Moringa oleifera can be grown in any tropical and subtropical regions of the World with a

temperature around 25 °C to 35 °C. It requires sandy or loamy soil with a slightly acidic to

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slightly alkaline pH and a net rainfall of 250 mm-3000 mm [4]. The direct seeding method is

followed as it has high germination rates. Since moringa seeds are expected to germinate

within 5-12 days after seeding and can be implanted at a depth of 2 cm in the soil. Moringa

can also be propagated using containers. The saplings are placed in plastic bags containing

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sandy or loamy soil. After it grows to about 30 cm, it can be transplanted. However, utmost

care has to be taken while transplanting as the tap roots are tender and tend to get affected.

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The tree can also be cultivated from cuttings with 1 m length and 4-5 cm in diameter, but

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these plants may not have a good deep root system. Such plants tend to be sensitive to

drought and winds. For commercial purposes large scale intensive and semi-intensive

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plantation of moringa may be followed. In commercial cultivation, spacing is important as it

helps in plant management and harvest. Moringa oleifera differs in nutrient composition at
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different locations [5]. The tree grown in India has slightly different nutritional components

than a tree grown in Nigeria. Asante et al. [6] studied the nutritional differences in the leaves
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from two ecological locations semi-deciduous and Savannah regions. It showed that the latter
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was less nutritious than the former and attributed this to high temperatures at the Savannah
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regions. At higher temperature, proteins and enzymes get denatured and this could be the
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cause for the difference in nutrient content.

Soil is an important factor that defines nutrient content and strength of the plant. Dania et al.
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[7] showed that fertilizers when applied solely or in combination with others resulted in

different nutrient compositions on plant parts. NPK fertilizer, poultry manure and organic

base fertilizer was provided to study the effect on the nutrient content and found that poultry

manure gave the best results than phosphorous, potassium, sodium and manganese. Likewise

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the stem girth and vegetative growth of moringa increased on application of poultry manure.

The overall nutrient attributes of the plant remains same albeit nutrient variability. This

makes moringa viable as a potential nutraceutical anywhere in the World.

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1.3. Nutritive Properties

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Every part of Moringa oleifera is a storehouse of important nutrients and antinutrients. The

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leaves of Moringa Oleifera are rich in minerals like calcium, potassium, zinc, magnesium,

iron and copper [2]. Vitamins like beta-carotene of vitamin A, vitamin B such as folic acid,

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pyridoxine and nicotinic acid, vitamin C, D and E; are present [8]. The phytochemicals such

as tannins, sterols, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, anthraquinones, alkaloids and reducing

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sugar are present along with anti-cancerous agents like glucosinolates, isothiocyanates,

glycoside compounds and glycerol-1-9-octadecanoate [9]. Moringa leaves also have a low
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calorific value and can be used in the diet of the obese. The pods are fibrous and are valuable

to treat digestive problems and thwart colon cancer [10, 62]. A research shows that immature
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pods contain around 46.78 % fiber and around 20.66 % protein content. Pods have 30 % of
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amino acid content, the leaves have 44 % and flowers have 31 %. The immature pods and
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flowers showed similar amounts of palmitic, linolenic, linoleic and oleic acids [11].
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Moringa has lot of minerals that are essential for growth and development among which,

calcium is considered as one of the important minerals for human growth. While 8 ounces of
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milk can provide 300-400 mg, moringa leaves can provide 1000 mg and moringa powder can

provide more than 4000 mg. Moringa powder can be used as a substitute for iron tablets,

hence as a treatment for anemia. Beef has only 2 mg of iron while moringa leaf powder has

28 mg of iron. It has been reported that moringa contains more iron than spinach [12]. A

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good dietary intake of zinc is essential for proper growth of sperm cells and is also necessary

for the synthesis of DNA and RNA. Moringa Oleifera leaves show around 25.5 to 31.03 mg

of zinc/kg, which is the daily requirement of zinc in the diet [13].

PUFAs are linoleic acid, linolenic acid and oleic acid; these PUFAs have the ability to control

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cholesterol. Research show that moringa seed oil contains around 76 % PUFA, making it

ideal for use as a substitute for olive oil [14]. A point to note is that the nutrient composition

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varies depending on the location. Fuglie [12] revealed that seasons influence the nutrient

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content. It was shown that vitamin A was found abundantly in the hot-wet season, while

vitamin C and iron were more in the cool-dry season [15]. The difference in results can be

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attributed to the fact that the location, climate and the environmental factors significantly

influence nutrient content of the tree [16]. A complete list of nutrients available in leaves,
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pods and seeds are shown in Table 1.
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1.4. Processing of Moringa

Most plants lose their nutritive properties when processed. When compared, the nutritive
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content of raw, germinated and fermented moringa seed flour, it was found that
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phytochemicals were higher in raw seed flour and amino acid content was at its peak in
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fermented and germinated seed flour [17, 59]. This can be a result of the biochemical

activities during germination and microbial activity during fermentation. However, a study
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reviewed the effect of boiling, simmering and blanching to see the retention of nutrient

content of moringa leaves. Interestingly, boiling was the most effective of all the techniques

as it reduced the cyanide, oxalate and phytate contents, more significantly than the other two

methods. The presence of phytate and other anti-nutrients can reduce the bioavailability of

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certain nutrients and processing can hence be done for maximum utilization of required

nutrients from the seeds and leaves [18, 63]. Yang et al. [15] reported that boiling increased

the availability of iron and antioxidant content. Hence, the processed moringa seed flour can

be used to treat malnutrition problems. However, some studies have shown that children

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refuse to take in moringa due to its slight bitter taste [70]. Kiranawati et al. [19] designed

moringa noodles by three methods of cooking noodles, sautéing, steaming and boiling. These

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noodles were tested on rats and the effects on mammary glands were studied. Interestingly,

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the sautéed noodles had a better effect on the mammary glands of rats and improved milk

production. The effect of sautéing on the noodles improved lactogogum values, because the

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oil used was rich in sterols. Moringa oleifera have also been incorporated into chocolates. A

recent report tested different percentages of moringa in the chocolate fortification and found
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that, 20 % moringa incorporation in cocoa powder was ideal. Similarly, moringa

incorporation in halawa tahinia also increased the nutrient value of the delicacy. Such studies
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have shown the potential for developing protein and minerals-rich chocolate and halawa
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tahinia [20]. Several such moringa fortifications are possible, to ensure intake of adequate
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amounts of nutrients in children.

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1.4.1. Preservation Methods

Moringa can also be preserved for a long time without loss of nutrients. Drying or freezing
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can be done to store the leaves. A report by Yang et al. [15] shows that a low temperature

oven used to dehydrate the leaves, retained more nutrients except vitamin C than freeze-dried

leaves. Hence, drying can be done using economical household appliance like stove, to retain

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a continuous supply of nutrients in the leaves. Preservation by dehydration improves the shelf

life of Moringa without change in nutritional value

An overdose of moringa may cause high accumulation of iron. High iron can cause

gastrointestinal distress and hemochromatosis. Hence, a daily dose of 70 g of moringa is

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suggested to be good and prevents over accumulation of nutrients [21].

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1.5. Medicinal Properties

Moringa oleifera is often referred as a panacea and can be used to cure more than 300

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diseases. Moringa has long been used in herbal medicine by Indians and Africans. The

phytochemicals present, makes it a good medicinal agent. In this section, the effect of

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moringa on diseases like diabetes and cancer are reviewed.
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1.5.1. Anti-Diabetic Properties

Moringa has been shown to cure both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is one
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where the patients suffer from non-production of insulin, which is a hormone that maintains
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the blood glucose level at the required normal value. Type 2 diabetes is one associated with

insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes might also be due to Beta cell dysfunction, which fails to
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sense glucose levels, hence reduces the signaling to insulin, resulting in high blood glucose
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levels [22]. Several studies have shown that, moringa can act as an anti-diabetic agent. A
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study has shown that the aqueous extracts of Moringa oleifera can cure streptozotocin-

induced Type 1 diabetes and also insulin resistant Type 2 diabetes in rats [23]. In another

study, the researchers fed the STZ-induced diabetes rats with Moringa seed powder and

noticed that the fasting blood glucose dropped [50]. Also, when the rats were treated with

about 500 mg of moringa seed powder/kg body weight, the antioxidant enzymes increased in
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Page 8 of 29
the serum. This shows that the antioxidants present in moringa can bring down the ROS

caused in the Beta-cells due to the STZ induction [8]. STZ causes ATP dephosphorylation

reactions and helps xanthine oxidase in the formation of superoxides and reactive oxygen

species (ROS) in Beta cells [24]. In hyperglycemic patients, the beta cells get destructed (Fig.

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1). Therefore, high glucose enters the mitochondria and releases reactive oxygen species.

Since, beta cells have low number of antioxidants; this in turn causes apoptosis of the beta

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cells [25, 26]. This reduces insulin secretion leading to hyperglycemia and in turn diabetes

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mellitus Type-2. The flavonoids like quercitin and phenolics have been attributed as

antioxidants that bring about a scavenging effect on ROS. It can be hypothesized that the

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flavonoids in Moringa, scavenge the ROS released from mitochondria, thereby protecting the

beta cells and in turn keeping hyperglycemia under control [27, 50].
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Diabetes leads to several complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, atherosclerosis etc.

Moringa can be used to prevent such ailments. When there is hyperglycemia, the blood
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glucose reacts with proteins and causes advanced glycated end products (AGEs). These
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AGEs bind to RAGE which gets expressed on the surface of immune cells. This interaction
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leads to increased transcription of Cytokines like interleukin-6 and interferons. At the same
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time, the cell adhesion molecules are expressed on the surface endothelium of arteries [28].

This facilitates transendothelial migration which causes inflammation in the arteries and leads
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to atherosclerosis (Fig. 2). Moringa is used as an anti-atherosclerotic agent [29]. The anti-

atherogenic nature can be accounted for by the antioxidant properties of moringa.

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1.5.2. Anticancer Properties

Cancer is a common disease and one in 7 deaths is attributed due to improper medication.

Around 24lakh cases are prevalent in India, while there are no specific reasons for cancer to

develop, several factors like smoking, lack of exercise, radiation exposure can lead to the

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disease [69]. Cancer treatments like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are expensive and

have side effects. Moringa oleifera can be used as an anticancer agent as it is natural, reliable

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and safe, at established concentrations. Studies have shown that moringa can be used as an

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anti-neoproliferative agent, thereby inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. Soluble and solvent

extracts of leaves have been proven as anticancer agents. Further most research papers,

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suggest that the anti-proliferative effect of cancer may be due to its ability to induce reactive

oxygen species in the cancer cells. The research shows that the reactive oxygen species
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induced in the cells, leads to apoptosis. This is further proved by the up regulation of caspase

3 and caspase 9, which are part of the apoptotic pathway [30-31, 64]. Moreover, the ROS
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production by moringa is specific and targets only cancer cells, making it an ideal anticancer
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agent. Tiloke et al. [30] also showed that the extracts increased the expression of glutathione-
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S-transferase, which doesn’t allow antioxidants to be expressed. Anticancer agents targeting

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cancer using ROS induction are common, but these substances should also be able to attack

the antioxidant enzymes [32]. Moringa leaf extracts have been shown to be good
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antioxidants. However, they are also good anticancer agents and induce ROS. The exact

behavior of the two contrary attributes of the leaves is yet to be explored. The compounds of

the leaves that are held responsible for the anticancer activities are glucosinolates, niazimicin

and benzyl isothiocyanate [33]. Benzyl isothiocyanate has been shown to be linked with

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cancer. Research shows that BITC causes intracellular ROS, which leads to cell death. This

could be one of the reasons for moringa to be a good anticancer agent [34-35, 65].

1.5.3. Other Diseases

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Moringa can be used as a potent neuroprotectant. Cerebral ischemia is caused due to

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obstruction of blood flow to the brain. This leads to reperfusion and lipid peroxidation, which

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in turn results in reactive oxygen species. Moringa with its antioxidants can reduce the

reactive oxygen species, thereby protecting the brain [36, 37]. Moringa oleifera is used to

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treat dementia, as it has been shown to be a promoter of spatial memory. The leaf extracts

have shown to decrease the acetylcholine esterase activity, thereby improving cholinergic

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function and memory [38]. Adeyemi et al. [39] showed that moringa in diet of rats, can

increase protein content and decrease levels of urea and creatinine in blood, preventing renal
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dysfunction. Moringa decreased acidity in gastric ulcers by a percentage of 86.15 % and

85.13 % at doses of 500 mg and 350 mg, respectively and can be used as an antiulcer agent
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[40]. Moringa is prescribed by herbal practitioners for patients with AIDS. Moringa is
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suggested to be included in the diet, with the view of boosting the immune system of HIV
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positive individuals. However, more research is essential to validate the effect of moringa on
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anti-retroviral drugs [41]. The hydro-alcoholic extract of moringa flowers reduced the levels

of rheumatoid factor, TNF-alpha and IL-1 in arthritic rats. This proves that moringa can be a
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potent therapy for arthritis [42]. Microbial diseases are widespread and there is a need for

antimicrobial agents, Moringa oleifera has been proven as a good antimicrobial agent [66]. A

study by Viera et al. [43] has shown that the extracts of Moringa oleifera can act against

bacteria like Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio cholera. The antibacterial

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effects of the seeds were accounted for by the presence of pterygospermin, moringine and

benzyl isothiocyanate [67]. Table 2 presents nutritional composition and medicinal uses of

different parts of Moringa

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1.6. Commercial Applications

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Moringa seeds are used to extract oil called the Ben oil. This oil is rich in oleic acid,

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tocopherols and sterols. It can also withstand oxidative rancidity. The oil can be used in

cooking as a substitute for olive oil, as perfumes and also for lubrication [14, 44]. The pods

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can absorb organic pollutants and pesticides. Moringa seeds also have great coagulant

properties and can precipitate organics and mineral particulates out of a solution [1, 53].

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Chemical coagulants such as aluminum sulfate (Alum) and ferric sulfate or polymers

removes suspended particles in waste water by neutralizing the electrical charges of particles
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in the water to form flocs making particles filterable. Moringa Oleifera seed is a natural

coagulant, containing a cationic protein that can clarify turbid water. This property of
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Moringa Oleifera seeds is attracting much research as other coagulants such as alum,
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activated carbon and ferric chloride are expensive and rare [58]. Suhartini et al. [45]
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developed a two-stage clarifier for the treatment of tapioca starch waste water by placing
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coconut fiber followed by a layer of sand media mixed with powdered Moringa oleifera, this

lead to improvement on physical and chemical characteristics, stabilizing pH value. Moringa

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seed extract has the ability to eliminate heavy metals (such as lead, copper, cadmium,

chromium and arsenic) from water [46]. Moringa oleifera functionalized with magnetic

nanoparticles such as iron oxide were found beneficial in surface water treatment by lowering

settling time [55]. Seed extracts have antimicrobial properties that inhibit bacterial growth,

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Page 12 of 29
which implies preventing waterborne diseases. These properties of Moringa oleifera seeds

have wide applicability in averting diseases and can enhance the quality of life in rural

communities as it is highly abundant.

Moringa seeds can be used in cosmetics and are sources of biodiesel while the seedcakes, can

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be used as a green manure or a fertilizer. The flowers of moringa are used to make tea with

hypocholesterolemic properties. Moringa flowers are said to taste like mushrooms when fried

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[68]. The moringa flowers are great sources of nectar and are used by beekeepers. The root

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bark has medicinal values and is used for dyspepsia, eye diseases and heart complaints [51].

The tap root of Moringa is used as a spice. The gum from the tree can be used in

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calicoprinting. The gum and roots also have antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory

properties. The growth hormone from the leaves, called Zeatin is an excellent foliar and can
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increase the crop yield by 25 % to 30 % [12]. Incorporation and fortification of moringa can

be significant to tackle nutrient deficiencies and malnutrition. Studies have tried fortifying
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moringa in snacks. Aluko et al. [47] did a sensory evaluation on cookies made from a mix of
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maize flour and moringa seed flour. The flour was mixed with different percentages of the
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two flours and the best acceptance was for 92.5 % maize and 7.5 % moringa seed flour
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combination. This was well accepted due to its crispness, aroma, taste and color. Cereal

gruels have also been fortified by moringa leaves, in order to improve the protein content and
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energy. The cereal gruel with 65 % popcorn and 35 % moringa leaves was blanched and

fermented. The fermented ones showed higher protein and energy while the blanched cereal

had higher mineral content [48]. Owusu et al. [49] also used moringa as a fortificant and

produced cream and butter crackers with moringa and Ipomoea batatas as fortificants, with

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Page 13 of 29
the hope of adding additional nutrients to snacks. The sensory evaluation proved the cream

crackers to be widely accepted. Moringa Oleifera leaves can be incorporated in the diet of

hens and layers thereby providing excellent protein source, substituting other expensive

ingredients such as soybean meal and ground nut cake [56, 57].

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Considering the views of several such fortifications, it is suggested that such addition can be

done to other snacks as well. Addition of moringa to the snacks can add nutritive value to the

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snacks. Most snacks are made up of corn meal and from several studies, it can be seen that a

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little addition of moringa to maize flour can add nutritive value to the snack, in terms of

protein, energy and minerals. However, further studies on moringa as a fortified Indian snack

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is required, to commercialize and bring it to the market.
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1.7. Conclusion and Future Prospects

The research on Moringa oleifera is yet to gain importance in India. It is essential that the

nutrients of this wonder tree are exploited for a variety of purposes. Moringa oleifera has
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great anti-diabetic and anti-cancer properties, but double blind researches are less prevalent,
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to further substantiate these properties of moringa. More study is needed to corroborate the
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primary mechanisms of moringa as antidiabetic and anticancer agents. Several puzzling

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questions are unanswered. Research on the antioxidant nature of aqueous extracts on cancer

cells needs further inquiry. Studies have proven that moringa causes ROS in cancer cells that
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leads to apoptosis or necrosis. However, the aqueous extracts also have antioxidants present

in them. The exact mechanism of this irony is yet to be explored. The effect of environmental

factors affecting the nutrient levels of leaves and other parts of Moringa oleifera grown

across the globe require further analysis.

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Page 14 of 29
Further research to isolate endophytic fungi and identify the enzymes or proteins from

Moringa Oleifera that are accountable for the anticancer and antidiabetic activity may lead to

development of novel therapeutic compounds. Yet another focal area is to evaluate the

commercial use of M.oleifera as a bio-coagulant. It might be a viable alternative for water

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purification. The demand for snacks in the market is huge. Hence Moringa fortification in

snacks to eradicate malnutrition has a twin advantage. The tree, a native to India, can become

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a great source of income for the nation if this potential for highly nutritional food is exploited

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by the industries and researchers by undertaking further research to corroborate earlier

studies.

Acknowledgements
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The authors sincerely thank Director Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad for their
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continued encouragement and support. LG thanks DSK for constant support and valuable

suggestions in completing this manuscript.

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 t
Table 1 The nutrient compositions1 of leaves, leaf powder, seeds and pods.

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Nutrients Fresh Dry Leaves Leaf Powder Seed Pods

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Leaves

Calories(cal) 92 329 205 - 26

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Protein(g) 6.7 29.4 27.1 35.97±0.19 2.5

Fat(g) 1.7 5.2 2.3 38.67±0.03 0.1

Carbohydrate(g)

Fibre(g)
12.5

0.9
41.2

12.5 an
38.2

19.2
8.67±0.12

2.87±0.03
3.7

4.8
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Vitamin B1(mg) 0.06 2.02 2.64 0.05 0.05

Vitamin B2(mg) 0.05 21.3 20.5 0.06 0.07

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Vitamin B3(mg) 0.8 7.6 8.2 0.2 0.2

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Vitamin C(mg) 220 15.8 17.3 4.5± 0.17 120

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Vitamin E(mg) 448 10.8 113 751.67±4.41 -

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Calcium(mg) 440 2185 2003 45 30

Magnesium(mg) 42 448 368 635±8.66 24

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Phosphorus(mg) 70 252 204 75 110

Potassium(mg) 259 1236 1324 - 259

Copper(mg) 0.07 0.49 0.57 5.20±0.15 3.1

1
All values are in 100 g per plant material [12, 52, 60].

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Iron(mg) 0.85 25.6 28.2 - 5.3

Sulphur(mg) - - 870 0.05 137

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Table 2 Nutritional compositions and medicinal uses of different parts of Moringa.

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Part of Medicinal Uses Nutritive Properties Suggestion References
tree

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Leaves Moringa leaves treat asthma, Moringa leaves contain fiber, fat The presence of [1, 8, 12, 17, 31,
hyperglycemia, proteins and minerals like Ca, Mg, flavanoids gives leaves 40].
Dyslipidemia, flu, heart burn, P, K, Cu, Fe, and S. Vitamins like the antidiabetic and

M
syphilis, malaria, pneumonia, Vitamin-A (Beta-carotene), vitamin antioxidant properties.
diarrhea, headaches, scurvy, B-choline, vitamin B1-thiamine, The isothiocyanates are
skin diseases, bronchitis, eye riboflavin, nicotinic acid and anticancer agents.

ed
and ear infections. Also ascorbic acid are present. Various Flavanoids like quercitin
reduces, blood pressure and amino acids like Arg, His, Lys, Trp, and others are known for
cholesterol and acts as an Phe, Thr, Leu, Met, Ile, Val are anti-proliferative,
pt
anticancer, antimicrobial, present. Phytochemicals like anticancer agent. The
Antioxidant, antidiabetic and tannins, sterols, saponins, presence of minerals and
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anti-atherosclerotic agents, trepenoids, phenolics, alkaloids and vitamins help in

neuroprotectant. flavanoids like quercitin, boosting the immune
isoquercitin, kaemfericitin, system and cure a
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isothiocyanates and glycoside myriad of diseases.

compounds are present.

Page 25 of 29
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Seeds Seeds of moringa help in Contains oleic acid (Ben oil), The presence of [1, 2, 4, 38, 61].

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treating hyperthyroidism, antibiotic called pterygospermin , flavanoids gives its anti-
Chrohn's disease, antiherpes- and fatty acids like Linoleic acid, inflammatory property.
simplex virus arthritis, linolenic acid, behenic acid, The antibiotic

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rheumatism, gout, cramp, Phytochemicals like tannins, pterygospermin is
epilepsy and sexually saponin, phenolics, phytate, responsible for
transmitted diseases, can act as flavanoids, terpenoids and lectins. antimicrobial properties.

M
antimicrobial and anti- Apart from these, fats, fiber, The other phyto-
inflammatory agents. proteins, minerals, vitamins like A, chemicals help in
B, C and amino acids. treating various diseases.
Root
Bark
Root bark acts as a cardiac
stimulant, anti-ulcer and anti- ed
Alkaloids like morphine, moriginine,
minerals like Calcium, Magnesium
The alkaloid helps the
bark to be antiulcer, a
[39, 41].
pt
inflammatory agent. and Sodium. cardiac stimulant and
helps to relax the
muscles.
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Flower Moringa flowers act as It contains calcium and potassium The presence of nectar [12,38].
hypocholesterolemic, anti- and amino acids. They also contain makes them viable for
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arthritic agents can cure nectar. use by beekeepers.

urinary problems and cold.

Page 26 of 29
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Pods Moringa pods treat diarrhea, Rich in fiber, lipids, non-structural The presence of PUFA [12].

us
liver and spleen problems, and carbohydrates, protein and ash. Fatty in the pods can be used
joint pain. acids like oleic acid, linoleic acid, in the diet of Obese.
palmitic acid and linolenic acid are

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also present.

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ed
pt
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Page 27 of 29
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Fig. 1 Mechanism of high glucose leading to diabetes and the effect of moringa on
M
progression of diabetes. The high glucose in blood enters Glycolysis in the mitochondria of

beta cells and forms reactive oxygen species. This then causes apoptosis of beta cells which
d

in turn leads to decreased insulin secretion, hyperglycemia and finally Type-2 diabetes.
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However, the cell apoptosis of beta cells can be averted by the use of moringa. Moringa has
p

antioxidants which combine with the reactive oxygen species and prevent cell damage and
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further consequences [8, 22, 25, 50].

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Page 28 of 29
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Fig. 2 Mechanism of diabetes leading to atherosclerosis and effect of moringa on the

progression of atherosclerosis. High blood glucose due to Glycolysis releases ROS, which
M
then forms AGEs and LDLs. The LDLs can directly lead to inflammation, while the AGE

when combined to RAGE expressed on cell surface, can cause expression of NFk-B. This can
d

further lead to transcription of other cytokines and in turn inflammation. Inflammation causes
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transendothelial migration of immune cells and LDLs, leading to atherosclerosis. Moringa

can prevent atherosclerosis by scavenging ROS and preventing the formation of AGE and
p

LDL, thereby acting as an anti-atherosclerotic agent [8, 24, 28, 29].

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