An Overview of the Ethno-Pharmacological Potentials of Moringa Oleifera Lam, “The Miracle Tree”

• A.A Njan

Moringa oleifera Lam belonging to the Moringaceae family is a small/middle-sized tree about 10m in height with wide distribution in the tropics and subtropics of Asia and Africa. It is a multipurpose tree with an impressive profile of medicinal uses, high nutritional value, and compelling water purifying attributes. Various parts of this plant such as the flower, seed, immature pod, stem bark, leaf and root, possess anti-oxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-ulcer, anti-hepatotoxic, antihypertensive, anti-hyperlipidaemic, antidiabetic, antispasmodic, antiepileptic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Phytochemical constituents isolated from different parts of the plant are 4-(α-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)-benzylglucosinolate, L-arabinose, D-galactose, D-glucuronic acid, L-rhamnose, D-mannose, D-xylose and leucoanthocyanin. Others includes, glycoside niazirin, niazirinin and three mustard oil glycosides, 4-[4’-O-acetyl- α -L-rhamnosyloxy) benzyl] isothiocyanate, niaziminin A and B , isothiocyanate, thiocarbanates, 0-[2’-hydroxy-3’-(2’’-heptenyloxy)]-propylundecanoate0-ethyl-4-[( α -1-rhamnosyloxy)-benzyl] carbamate, methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate and β-sitosterol . An overview of the pharmacological actions and medicinal uses of the plant is outlined in the present paper.

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