Instant noodles enriched with flours moringa (Moringa Oleifera Lam.) and ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata Mill.)

Abstract

Non-Conventional Food Plants (PANCs) have been gradually studied and can be included in food in their in natura form and in food production, enriching their nutritional value. Due to its easy cultivation, Ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata Mill.) can already be observed in Brazilian states from the Northeast to the South, and the use of these leaves is widespread in folk medicine. Given the above, this study aims to review in the literature the main benefits of Ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata Mill.) and Moringa (Moringa Oleifera Lam.). The Ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata Mill.) given the nutritional advantages of its leaves, there are studies that evaluate the consumption of leaves in the form of flour or in natura in some specific groups, but there is a need for further studies to analyze the intake of Ora-pro-nóbis leaves in risk groups that need the micronutrients present in large quantities in this part of the species. Moringa (Moringa Oleifera Lam.) is a perennial species of the Moringaceae family, native to northeast India, widely distributed in India, Egypt, Philippines, Ceylon, Thailand, Malaysia, Burma, Pakistan, Singapore, Jamaica and Nigeria (Pio Côrrea, 1984; Duke, 1987). It grows in regions from the dry and humid subtropics, to the dry tropical and humid forests. It is drought tolerant, flowering and producing fruit (Duke, 1978). It adapts to a wide range of soils, but grows best in well-drained terra preta or clayey terra preta, preferring neutral to slightly acidic soil (Dalla Rosa, 1993). It is a multipurpose plant. Almost all parts of moringa are said to be of food value (leaves, unripe fruits, flowers and seeds) and medicinal (all parts of the plant) (Palada, 1996; Makkar & Becker, 1997). In Brazil, Moringa oleífera has been known in the State of Maranhão since 1950 (Amaya et al., 1992). Currently, the culture of moringa has been spread throughout the northeastern semi-arid region.