Abstract
This paper reviews the properties of the most cultivated species of the Moringaceae family, Moringa oleifera Lam. The paper takes a critical look at the positive and the associated negative properties of the plant, with particular emphasis on its chemistry, selected medicinal and nutritional properties, as well as some ecological implications of the plant. The review highlights the importance of glucosinolates (GS) compounds which are relatively unique to the Moringa species family, with glucomoriginin and its acylated derivative being the most abundant. We highlight some new research findings revealing that not all M. oleifera cultivars contain an important flavonoid, rutin. The review also focuses on phenolic acids, tannin, minerals and vitamins, which are in high amounts when compared to most vegetables and fruits. Although there are numerous benefits of using M. oleifera for medicinal purposes, there are reports of contraindications. Nonetheless, we note that there are no major harmful effects of M. oleifera that have been reported by the scientific community. M. oleifera is suspected to be potentially invasive and moderately invasive in some regions of the world because of its ability to grow in a wide range of environmental conditions. However, the plant is currently classified as a low potential invasive species and thus there is a need to constantly monitor the species. Despite the numerous benefits associated with the plant, there is still a paucity of data on clinical trials proving both the positive and negative effects of the plant. We recommend further clinical trials to ascertain the properties associated with the plant, especially regarding long term use.
Highlights
Up to about 80% of the world’s population use natural remedies such as herbs for medication, mainly because of the ease of accessibility, affordability and most of all, because of safe therapeutics [1].Traditionally, plants produce secondary metabolites as an adaptive defence mechanism against a broadPlants 2019, 8, 510; doi:10.3390/plants8110510 www.mdpi.com/journal/plantsPlants 2019, 8, 510 spectrum of potentially damaging biotic and abiotic factors such as pathogens and the environment.Humans have exploited the properties of this biogenic resource in their fight against human pathogenic microbes [2]
As seen with the GS molecules, the attachment of groups such as acetyl on the sugar moiety of the active metabolites changes its polarity and its bio-availability. This type of diversification by M. oleifera is an indication that the plant can be a useful source of bio-available flavonoid compounds which can be used in physiological environments at different polarities
Free hydroxyl compounds contained by the phenolics found in M oleifera leaves are responsible for reduction reactions which aid in the prevention of degenerative diseases such as diabetes [56,57]
Summary
Up to about 80% of the world’s population use natural remedies such as herbs for medication, mainly because of the ease of accessibility, affordability and most of all, because of safe therapeutics [1]. Humans have exploited the properties of this biogenic resource (secondary metabolites) in their fight against human pathogenic microbes [2]. The past decades have seen several plants exploited for their phytoconstituents in either the development of medicine or nutritional purposes. One such plant has been Moringa oleifera Lam., which is known to possess a wide spectrum of metabolites with purported nutritional and medicinal properties [3]. This plant is commonly known as the “miracle tree” due to its purported healing powers across the different spectrum of diseases. M. oleifera to date, enable researchers to identify the existing research gaps and allow the industry to explore the collated information in developing new products
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