Nutritional-value

Moringa oleifera Lam(synonym: Moringa pterygosperma Gaertner) belongs to the Moringaceae family of shrubs and trees, and is thought to have originated in the northwest Indian cities of Agra and Oudh, south of the Himalayan Mountains.

By Attiqa Rahman, Athar Mahmood, Sadia Khalid

There is evidence that this tree has been cultivated in India for thousands of years. The Indians knew that the seeds contain edible oil and they used them for medicinal purposes. It’s likely that the common people were aware of its significance as a source of fodder or a vegetable. This tree may be found naturally growing up to 1,000 metres above sea level. It can be found growing on slopes, although it is most commonly found on pastureland or in river basins. It is a fast- growing tree that may reach a height of 6–7 metres in a year in places with less than 400 mm of yearly rainfall. Moringa is a tropical tree that is extremely beneficial. Its production and maintenance are made simple by the relative simplicity with which it propagates both sexually and asexually, as well as its minimal need for soil nutrients and water after planting. The introduction of this plant to a farm with a biodiverse setting can benefit both the farm owner and the ecology around it. The young leaves are edible and may be cooked and eaten like spinach or added to soups and salads.

Plant growth enhancers :

 

Moringa leaf extract in 80 percent ethanol includes growth-promoting properties (i.e. hormones of the cytokinine type). To speed up the growth of young plants, the extract can be used as a foliar spray. The application of a growth hormone spray will also make the plants firmer and

more pest and disease resistant. Plants sprayed with this growth hormone spray will also produce more and bigger fruit, resulting in a better yield when harvest time comes around. The extract can be made by pressing 20g of tender leaves in a total volume of 675 ml of 80 percent aq. ethanol or by using an ultra-turrax and filtering 20g of tender leaves in a total volume of 675 ml of 80 percent aq. ethanol. Spraying Moringa extract formulated in 80 percent ethanol and then diluted with water on plant leaves resulted in a longer, more vigorous life span, heavier roots, stems, and leaves, larger fruits, and higher sugar levels, among other things. Based on statistics such as stem diameter, number of nodules, number of axels, number of flower buds, and number of fruits per flower bud, the extract increases overall production by 20-35 percent.

Nutritional value:

 

  • Moringa oleifera contains high levels of β-carotene, protein, vitamin C, calcium, iron, potassium, all essential amino acids, and antioxidants (ascorbic acid, flavenoids, phenolics, caratenoids, etc). In comparison with other foods, various parts of Moringa oleifera have more iron than spinach (5.3-28.2 mg in pods, leaves, and powdered leaves per 100
  • Moringa oleifera vs 2.7 mg per 100 mg spinach), more vitamin C than oranges (120- 220 mg in pods and leaves per 100 mg Moringa oleifera vs 69.7 mg per 130 mg orange), more potassium than  bananas  (1324  mg  in  powdered  leaves  per  100  mg Moringa oleifera vs 422 mg per 118 mg of banana), and protein quality that is higher than milk and eggs (6.7-27.1 g in leaves and powdered leaves per 100 mg .
  • Moringa oleifera vs 12.56 g per two 50 mg eggs, and 3.85 g per 122 mg of whole milk). The calcium content in the leaves of Moringa oleifera is also higher than milk (440-2003 mg in leaves and powdered leaves of 100 mg of Moringa oleifera vs 138 g per 122 mg of whole milk) and is better absorbed than calcium in spinach because of less oxylate
  • Moringa oleifera is also rich in rhamnose, a simple sugar; glucosinates; and isothiocyanates. Its leaves contain 2 nitrile glycosides, niazirin and niazirinin, and 3 mustard oil glycosides, including 4-(4′-O-acetyl-α-L-rhamnosyloxy) benzyl) isothiocyanate, niaziminin A, and niaziminin B. Moringa oleifera also contains β- sitosterol, glycerol-1-(9-octadecanoate), 3-O-(6′-O-oleoyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-β- sitosterol, and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. Its roots contain moringine and

 

moringinine. Other ingredients include phytosterol, waxes, resins, zeatin, quercetin, caffeoylquinic acid, pterygospermin, and kaempferol.

 

Health benefits of moringa plant:

 

Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) is a highly prized plant found in many tropical and subtropical areas. Moringa is well recognised as a natural energy enhancer and a good source of nourishment. In the indigenous system of medicine, different portions of this plant are used to cure a variety of diseases.

  1. oleifera is particularly essential for its therapeutic benefit, in addition to its strong water purification properties and high nutritional content.

Various parts of this plant such as the

 

  • Leaves
  • Roots
  • Seed
  • Bark
  • Fruit
  • flowers and immature pods

 

act as cardiac and circulatory stimulants, as well as antipyretic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiepileptic, diuretic, antiulcer, antispasmodic, antihypertensive, cholesterol lowering, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, and antifungal agents, and are used in traditional medicine, particularly in South Asia, to treat a variety of ailments. The therapeutic qualities of many sections of this versatile tree, as well as their pharmacological characteristics.