A comprehensive review of Moringa oleifera Lam.: A valuable plant in food and medicine
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Abstract
Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringacase) is a fast-growing, woody plant found in African countries, regions bordering the Himalayas, India, and Pakistan. Reports indicate that M. oleifera is a potential food source to address hunger crises and combat human malnutrition. Additionally, M. oleifera seeds serve as a source of vegetable oil, known as Moringa oil, providing various health benefits. Moringa seed oil is highly nutritious, containing a high level of oleic acid (>75%) and higher amounts of vitamins B and C than other nutritious vegetables, such as spinach. Moreover, M. oleifera contains various bioactive compounds including flavonoids, carotenoids, steroids, terpenes, linoleic acid, behenic acid, etc. Different parts of the plant contain bioactive compounds exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, and blood sugar-stabilizing properties. Furthermore, M. oleifera is known in traditional medicine for treating various ailments, such as skin wounds, inflammation, disinfection, fever reduction, constipation, and asthma, and stimulating milk production in breastfeeding women. However, despite its potential applications in industries, agriculture, wastewater treatment, and medicine, M. oleifera still needs to be explored. This article provides an overview of the chemical composition, nutritional content, biological activities, and applications of M. oleifera based on scientific literature and research studies.
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