Quality Control and Safety of Moringa

Abstract

Ensuring the safety and quality of fresh leaves, dried leaves, dried leaf powders, bark, flowers, and seeds of Moringa oleifera L.and the food supplements produced from them is vital if consumers’ health is to be protected. Leaf extracts show the most significant antioxidant activity and in several safety studies in animals they indicate a high level of safety. Human studies have been published utilizing powdered leaf preparations of M.oleifera, which have demonstrated antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic capacities. These activities have been strengthened using leaf extracts and powders in experiments with animals, while no adverse impacts were described in studies performed on humans. Although different national and international organizations regulate botanical products and their preparations, member states can categorize a product either as a food complement or medicine. Precise data on the finished products from plants employed as a beginning point is of great value to properly assess risks and safety. In addition, manufacturers must establish and adhere to standardized criteria for the preparation of herbs. Physiologically active and toxic components need to be detected by specific analytical methods suitable for their determination.