Studies on Nutritional and Pharmacological Importance of Moringa Oleifera

Moringa oleifera, is a native to India and growing in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is commonly known as „drumstick tree‟ or „horseradish tree‟. Moringa can withstand both severe drought and mild frost conditions and hence widely cultivated across the world. With its high nutritive values, every part of the tree is suitable for either nutritional or pharmacological purposes. The leaves are rich in minerals, vitamins and other essential phytochemicals. Extracts from the leaves are used to treat malnutrition, augment breast milk in lactating mothers. It is used as potential antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and antimicrobial agent. The chemical composition of the different parts of the moringa tree may vary depending on cultivar and source. Moringa leaf, seed and flower have found numerous applications in food. In this review it is summarized the present knowledge on the use of moringa as a food fortificant in amala (stiff dough), ogi (maize gruel), bread, biscuits, yoghurt, cheese and in making soups. The knowledge gap in the reported research was provided and possible future applications of moringa in foods as well as the need for a well-structured and planned experimental design were suggested. The review was examined the use of moringa various disciplines for its medicinal value and deals with cultivation, nutritional, commercial and pharmacological applications of this “Miracle Tree”