Diversity in the Nutritional Values of Some Moringa oleifera Lam. Cultivars

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the variations in the nutritional attributes of thirteen Moringa oleifera cultivars. Leaves from six-month-old plants were harvested and tested for various nutritional attributes. There were significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences in the carbohydrates, energy, some of the sugars, and fibre amongst the cultivars. The levels of moisture in the cultivars ranged from 7.10% to 8.20%. Additionally, there were significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences across the cultivars in microelements studied except for zinc (Zn). These data revealed that plants from different geographical provenances differed in their adapting to varied environments. In general, under the same cultivation, management, and environmental conditions, the main reasons for these differences occurring in cultivars could be associated with the genetic background of each M. oleifera germplasm. However, the study cautions on the differences in nutritional properties, as some of the cultivars have been reported not to be pharmacologically potent.