Phytonutrient and Pharmacological Significance of Moringa oleifera

Abstract

-Moringa oleifera is a small, fast growing evergreen or deciduous tree. Moringa is rich in nutrition owing the presence of a variety of essential phytochemicals present in its leaves, pods and seeds. In fact, phytonutrient content of Moringa leaves (weight per weight) provides 7 times more vitamin C than in oranges, 10 times more vitamin A than carrots, 17 times more calcium content than milk, 9 times more protein than yoghurt, 15 times more potassium than bananas and 25 times more iron than in spinach. As numerous parts of Moringa oleifera plant such as roots, seed, bark, leaves, fruit, and immature pods, flowers act as cardiac and circulatory drugs, anti-pyretic, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, antiepileptic properties Moringa is called as Multipurpose Tree or " The Miracle Tree of Life " . Moringa also contains phytochemicals such as tannins, sterols, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, anthraquinones, alkaloids and reducing sugar present along with anti-cancerous agents like glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, glycoside compounds, and glycerol-1-9-octadecanoate respectively. The other chief medicinal properties of the plant include antispasmodic, diuretic, antihypertensive, cholesterol lowering hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antibacterial and antifungal activities.