Nutritional characterization of moringa oleifera leaves, seeds, husks and flowers from two regions of Mexico

Abstract

Moringa oleifera (MO) is a native tree species found in the south of the Himalayas, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan that is used commercially to produce tea, animal fodder and herbal medicines. The aim of the present study was to determine the nutritional characteristics of different parts of the MO plant from two regions of Mexico (States of Guerrero and Sonora). The proximal composition analyses (protein, lipids, ashes and fiber) were carried out according to the methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), and the antioxidant capacity and phenolic compounds were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Protein (38.5%) and lipid contents (42.2%) were higher in MO seeds compared to other plant parts. These results were similar between the two regions of Mexico that were evaluated. MO flowers from Guerrero showed the highest content of phenols and tannins (1908.71 mg Gallic Acid Equivalents (GAE) 100 g-1, 220.27 mg Catechin Equivalents (CE) 100 g-1, respectively) while MO leaves from Sonora showed the highest flavonoid content (2859 mg GAE 100 g-1). The Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) analysis showed that MO husks obtained from Guerrero had the highest antioxidant capacity (224.45 μmol Trolox Equivalents (TE) g-1). The Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) test showed that MO flowers from Guerrero had the highest antioxidant capacity (382 μmol (TE) g-1). The differences between MO from the two different regions reported in this study could be attributed to factors such as soil type, climatic conditions and the growing region.