Moringa oleifera is a cultivated tree native to northwest India that is now grown in many tropical and subtropical areas. All parts of the tree are edible and provide important nutrients. Research is exploring Moringa oleifera's potential health benefits, including using extracts to decrease inflammation and pain, inhibit viral and fungal infections, possibly inhibit cancer cell growth, and improve cardiovascular health by reducing cholesterol and oxidative stress. However, more research is still needed before claims can be made about its effectiveness in treating diseases.

1. Volume 2, Issue 8, Nov/Dec 2009
Recognizing the Nutritional Value & Evidence of Moringa oleifera
By: Charles Spielholz, Ph.D.
M
oringa oleifera is a cultivated vegetable tree.
Native to northwest India, it is now grown in
Africa, Central and South America, Mexico,
Sri Lanka, the Philippines and India. All parts of the tree are
edible. The tree does well in drought conditions making it an
important source of nutrients in many societies.
Moringa oleifera is an excellent nutritional source (1-5).
The plant is an excellent source of protein, vitamins A and C, B
vitamins, calcium and a small amount of iron. Protein isolated
from Moringa oleifera contains a large number of essential
amino acids (those amino acids required in the human diet) thus
making Moringa oleifera a good choice as a protein source for
vegetarians. Moringa oleifera also contains a variety of less well known phytochemicals
including isothiocyanates, alkaloids, β-sistosterol and quercetin.
Based on the phytochemical composition of Moringa oleifera, several avenues of
research are underway. These avenues of research include Moringa oleifera’s potential value for
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2. Volume 2, Issue 8, Nov/Dec 2009
the relief of pain and inflammation, as an antiseptic against viral and fungal infections, as a
potential source of novel chemotherapy agents, and also for possible cardio-protective properties.
Extracts of Moringa oleifera appear to have properties that decrease inflammation.
Further preliminary observations have indicated that Moringa oleifera may relieve the pain and
inflammation of arthritis in laboratory animals
(6.7). There is also early stage evidence, again in
laboratory animals, that Moringa oleifera may
decrease the physiological events that up to an
asthmatic attack (8-10). Mechanistically, it
appears that Moringa oleifera’s beneficial effects
on both pain and inflammation may occur by
decreasing the ability of inflammatory cytokines to function. However, much more research is
needed before Moringa oleifera can be considered as a candidate for alleviating inflammation or
any of the physiological causes of arthritis and/or asthma in humans.
In the laboratory, Moringa oleifera has shown antiseptic properties against viral and
fungal infection (11-15). Extracts of Moringa oleifera inhibited the activity of several strains of
the virus Herpes simplex type 1 in laboratory mice. Extracts of Moringa oleifera have also
inhibited the growth of fungi that infect the skin, hair and nails including fungi that cause
athlete’s foot, jock itch, ring worm, scalp ringworm and Malabar itch. Clinical trials are needed,
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3. Volume 2, Issue 8, Nov/Dec 2009
however, before claims can be made regarding a role for Moringa oleifera in these or other
infections.
Some of the phytochemicals in Moringa
oleifera appear to be able to inhibit the growth
and increase the death rate of cancer cells
maintained in cell culture in the laboratory
(16,17). This preliminary observation of possible
chemotherapeutic activity in Moringa oleifera
requires additional research and testing, and if those results prove interesting, clinical trials
would be necessary before any Moringa oleifera components can be used as chemotherapeutic
agents.
Preliminary experimental studies in rabbits and mice indicate that Moringa oleifera may
have cardiovascular benefits (18-20). Moringa oleifera appeared to improve the lipid profile and
to cause decreases in cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipid, VLDL and LDL levels as well as
decreases in LDL oxidation and the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. In addition, Moringa
oleifera appeared to increase free radical scavenging activity. However, any proposed cardio-
protective properties of Moringa oleifera must be subjected to additional study and rigorous
clinical trials before any claims can be made regarding heart disease.
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4. Volume 2, Issue 8, Nov/Dec 2009
Moringa oleifera has already been shown
to be an excellent nutritional source. Moringa is
commercially available as a supplement. One
company, Ecovita (Rockleigh, NJ), has recently
announced a new moringa product made from the
leaves of the plant called Moringa Super Herb.
Moringa Super Herb will be available in an easy to use capsule. Further research on this plant
should provide evidence for health benefits in addition to nutrition.
References
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profile and potential for human consumption. World Rev Nutr Diet. 91:41-59.
2) Lakshminarayana R, Raju M, Krishnakantha TP, Baskaran V. 2005. Determination of major carotenoids in a few
Indian leafy vegetables by high-performance liquid chromatography. J Agric Food Chem. 53:2838-42.
3) Nambiar VS, Bhadalkar K, Daxini M. 2003. Drumstick leaves as source of vitamin A in ICDS-SFP. Indian J
Pediatr. 70:383-7.
4) Lockett CT, Calvert CC, Grivetti LE. 2000. Energy and micronutrient composition of dietary and medicinal wild
plants consumed during drought. Study of rural Fulani, northeastern Nigeria. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 51:195-208.
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Foods Hum Nutr. 53:29-36.
6) Mahajan SG, Mali RG, Mehta AA. 2007. Protective Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Seeds of Moringa oleifera
Lam. Against Inflammation Associated with Development of Arthritis in Rats. J Immunotoxicol. 4:39-47.
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derivatives from roots of Moringa oleifera as potential anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive agents. Eur J Med
Chem. 44:432-6.
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5. Volume 2, Issue 8, Nov/Dec 2009
8) Mahajan SG, Mehta AA. 2008. Effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. seed extract on ovalbumin-induced airway
inflammation in guinea pigs. Inhal Toxicol. 20:
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oleifera. 1: Preliminary screening for antimicrobial activity. J Ethnopharmacol. 33:213-6.
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stenopetala. Planta Med. 42:55-61.
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