Herbal (plant) medicine
The Moringa Tree, with all its edible leaves, flowers, and pods are one of most power packed, nutritious trees in the world. Many cultures, like Amazonian Indian tribes, with no written languages, depended on oral communication from generation to generation, to convey information and traditions which were also rich in plant stories. Since ancient times and continuing to current days, people from all over the world have grown or collected plants for the prevention and treatment of diseases. Moringa Oleifera is one of the best examples. People have long known that botanical medicine provided a complete, safe system of healing and prevention of diseases. This is the most ancient form of healthcare known to humankind.
Botany
Moringa/Maungai is a small tree growing as high as 9 meters, with a soft and white wood and corky and gummy bark. Leaves are alternate, usually thrice pinnate, 25 to 50 centimeters long. Each compound leaf contains 3-9 very thin leaflets dispersed on a compound (3 times pinnate) stalk. The leaflets are thin, ovate to elliptic, and 1 to 2 centimeters long. Flowers are white and fragrant, 1.5 to 2 centimeters long, on spreading panicles. Pod is 15 to 30 centimeters long, pendulous, three-angled, and nine-ribbled. Seeds are three-angled, and winged on the angles.
Distribution
• Planted throughout the Philippines in settled areas at low and medium altitudes.
• Introduced from Malaya or some other part of tropical Asia in prehistoric times.
• A common backyard vegetable and a border plant.
• Now pantropic.
Propagation
• Propagation by seeds and stem cuttings.
• Mature malunggay cuttings should be 2 cm or more in diameter and not less than 80 cm (30 inches) in length. Mature cuttings are preferred as they sprout earlier and grow faster.
• The only pests known to attack malunggay are mites of the Tetranychus spp.
Parts utilized
Flowers, leaves, young pods
Properties
• Root has the taste of horseradish.
• Considered galactagogue, rubefacient, antiscorbutic, diuretic, stimulant, purgative, antibiotic, antifungal.
• Anti-inflammatory, antitumor activities on mice studies.
• Antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-ulcer.
• Estrogenic, anti-progestational, hypoglycemic, antihyperthyroidism, hypocholesterolemic, anti-hyperthyroid, antispasmodic.
• Considered abortifacient and emmenagogue.
• Purported to be beneficial for decreasing blood pressure, relieving headaches and migraines, reducing inflammatory and arthritic pains, anti-ulcer, anti-tumor. Purported to be beneficial for decreasing blood pressure, relieving headaches and migraines, reducing inflammatory and arthritic pains.
Constituents
• Root yields an essential oil, pungent and offensive in odor.
• Studies of MO leaves have yielded phytochemicals to which are attributed hypotensive effects and anti-cancer properties.
The root bark has sex hormone-related properties.
• Root bark contains alkaloids.
Uses
Nutritional
• Flowers, young leaves and young pods eaten as a vegetable inn the Philippines, Malaya, and India.
• In Malaya, seeds also eaten as peanuts.
• Roots are used as seasoning because of it horseradish flavor.
• Young leaves are a rich source of calcium, iron, phosphorus and vitamins A, B and C.
• High in HDL (high density lipoproteins); a source of amino acids, omega oils, antioxidants.
• Young fruit yield a high amount of protein and phosphorus, a fair source of calcium and iron,
• Comparative content: Gram for gram, 7 times the vitamin C in oranges, 4 times the calcium and twice the protein in milk, 4 times the vitamin A in carrots, 3 times the potassium in bananas.
• 100 gms or 1 cup of cooked malunggay leaves contain 3.1 g protein, 0.6 g fiber, 96 mg calcium, 29 mg phosphorus, 1.7 mg iron, 2,820 mg beta-carotene, 0.07 mg thiamin, 0.14a mg riboflavin, 1.1 mg niacin, and 53 mg of vitamin C. (Dr. Lydia Marero of the Food and Drug Research Institute -FNRI)
Folkloric
- Decoction of leaves used for hiccups, asthma, gout, back pain, rheumatism, wounds and sores.
- Young leaves, usually boiled, used to increase the flow of breast milk.
- Pods for intestinal parasitism.
- Leaves and fruit used for constipation.
- Decoction of boiled roots used to wash sores and ulcers.
- Decoction of the bark used for excitement, restlessness.
- In India pounded roots used as poultice for inflammatory swelling. Flowers used for catarrh, with young leaves or young pods.
- In Nicaragua decoction of roots used for dropsy.
- Roots have been used as abortifacient. In India, bark is used as abortifacient.
- Decoction of root-bark used as fomentation to relieve spasms; also, for calculous affections.
- Gum, mixed with sesamum oil, used for relief of earaches. Same, also reported as abortifacient.
- In Java, gum used for intestinal complaints.
- Roots chewed and applied to snake bites.
- Decoction of roots is considered anti scorbutic; also used in delirious patients.
- Juice of roots is used for otalgia.
- Bark used as rubefacient remedy.
- Decoction of roots is use as gargle for hoarseness and sore throat.
- Leaves used as purgative.
- Chewing of leaves used in gonorrhea to increase urine flow.
- Fresh roots used as stimulant and diuretic.
- Seeds for hypertension, gout, asthma, hiccups, and as a diuretic.
- Rheumatic complaints: Decoction of seeds; or, powdered roasted seeds applied to affected area.
- Juice of the root with milk used for asthma, hiccups, gout, lumbago.
- Poultice of leaves applied for glandular swelling.
- Pounded fresh leaves mixed with coconut oil applied to wounds and cuts.
- The flowers boiled with soy milk thought to have aphrodisiac quality.
- Root is rubefacient and plaster applied externally as counter irritant.
- In West Bengal, India, roots taken by women, for permanent contraception (Studies have shown total inactivation or suppression of the reproductive system).
Others
• Dye: In Jamaica the wood is used for dyeing blue color.
• Oil: known as Ben oil, extracted from flowers can be used as illuminant, ointment base, and absorbent in the enfleurage process of extracting volatile oils from flowers. |With ointments, the oil allows longer shelf life without undergoing oxidation.The oil, applied locally, has also been helpful for arthritic pains, rheumatic and gouty joints.
Breastfeeding women
• Malunggay leaves and pods are helpful in increasing breast milk in the breastfeeding months. One tablespoon of leaf powder provide 14% of the protein, 40% of the calcium, 23% of the iron and most of the vitamin A needs of a child aged one to three. Six tablespoons of leaf powder will provide nearly all of the woman's daily iron and calcium needs during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Studies
• Moringa preparations have been cited often in scientific literature as antibiotic, anti- inflammatory, hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycemic. However, many of the reports are not placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials.
• Anti-Inflammatory / Anti-tumor: Anti-inflammatory and Anti tumor Activities of Seeds Extracts of Malunggay—A study showed the crude ethanol extract of dried seeds inhibited the carrageenan-induced inflammation in the hind paw of mice by 85% at a dosage of 3 mg/g body weight; the mature green seeds by 77%. The crude ethanol extract also inhibited the formation of Epstein-Barr virus-early antigen (EBV-EA) induced by 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). At a dosage of 100 ?g/ml, the extract inhibited EBV-EA formation by 100% suggesting its antitumor-promoting activity. <Abstract:http://www.stii.dost.gov.ph/pjsweb/data/anti tumor_of_malunggay.htm>
• Ovarian Cancer: Possible Role of Moringa oleifera Lam. Root in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A hormonal etiology of epithelial ovarian cancer has been long suspected. Study suggests M Oleifera can interfere with hormone receptor-related and neoplastic growth-related cytokine pathways through centrally acting mechanisms.
• Asthma: Antiasthmatic activity of Moringa oleifera Lam: A clinical study: Study showed improvement in forced vital capacity, FEV1, and peak expiratory flow rate. It suggests a usefulness for MO seed kernel in patients with asthma.
• Antibiotic: 50 years ago, a study yielded Pterygospermin, a compound that readily dissociates into two molecules of benzyl isothiocyanate which has been shown to have antimicrobial properties. Unfortunately, many of the reports of antibiotic efficacy in humans were not from placebo controlled, randomized clinical trials. Recent studies have demonstrated possible efficacy against H. pylori.
• Hormonal properties / Abortifacient: Biochemical observations and histologic findings have been correlated with the anti-implantation action of aequous extracts, one possible explanation for its use as an abortifacient. source
• Antiurolithiatic: Study showed lowering of stone forming constituents in the kidneys of calculogenic rats with the use of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of MO suggesting antiurolithiatic activity.
• Antimicrobial / Water Purifyiing: Study of MO seeds paste for water purification yielded a steroidal glycoside, strophantidin, a bioactive agent in the seed. The seed paste was found effective in clarification and sedimentation of inorganic and organic matter in raw water, reducing total microbial and coliform counts by 55% and 65% respectively, in 24 hours, compared to alum with 65% and 83% reduction.
• Antipyretic / Wound Healing: Study of the ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of MO showed significant antipyretic activity in rats; the ethyl acetate extract of dried leaves showed significant wound healing on rat wound models.
• Analgeic: Previous studies have shown analgesic activity from the leaves of MO. This study on the alcoholic extract of MO seeds showed potent analgesic activity comparable to that of aspirin dose of 25 mg/kg BW.
• Hepatoprotective / Antioxidant: Study concluded that the alcoholic extracts of MO produced significant hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity, the aqueous extracts of the fruit less than the alcoholic extract.
• Anti-Ulcer: Study of M oleifera extract showed ulcer by protection by modulating 5-HT secretion through EC dell via 5-HT3 receptors in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Anthelmintic: In a comparative study of the anthelmintic activity of M oleifera and V negundo against Indian earthworm Pheritima posthuma, dose-dependent activity was observed with M oleifera showing more activity than V negundo.
• Comparison with Atenolol: Study comparing the effects of M oleifera with atenolol in adrenaline-induced rats on serum cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose level, heart and body weight showed the M oleifera leave extract made significant changes in each cardiovascular parameter.
• Hepatoprotective: Study in acetaminophen-induced liver disease in mice showed that leaves of MO can prevent hepatic injuries by preventing the decline of glutathione level.
• Antioxidant / Hypolipidemic / Anti-Atherosclerotic: Study showed lowering of cholesterol levels and reduction of the atherosclerotic plaque formation. Results indicate MO possesses antioxidant, hypolipidemic and antiatherosclerotic activities and has therapeutic potential for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
• Chemomodulatory / Chemopreventive: Study showed the possible chemopreventive potential of Moringal oleifera against chemical carcinogenesis.
• Anti-Diabetic: Study of the aqueous extract of MO leaves in STZ-induced sub, mild, and severely diabetic rats produced lowering of blood glucose levels, significant reduction in urine sugar and urine protein levels. Study validates scientifically claims on MO as ethnomedicine in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
• In Leyte, extracted malunggay juice is mixed with lemonsito juice to make ice candies or cold drinks, making it more plalatble and agreeable to children who detest vegetables.
Because of its high vitamin A, C, and E content, all potent antioxidants, malunggay is a very effective in removing unstable free radicals that is damaging to molecules and pro-aging.
For the men: The fruit could increase the sperm count !
For increasing breast milk: One rounded tablespoon of leaf powder provides 14% of protein requirements, 40% of calcium, 23% of iron, and the daily vitamin A needs of a child aged one to three. Six rounded tablespoons of leaf powder will provide the woman's daily iron and calcium needs during pregnancy and breast-feeding.
Recent uses and preparation:
Constipation: Eat one or two cups of the cooked leaves at supper time, with plenty of water.
Wound wash: Apply crushed leaves directly to the wound, maintaining cleanliness duriing the process.
• Biofuel source
• Moringa oil extracted from the seed of the malunggay plant is now being tapped as source of biodiesel. It is gaining preferable status over Jatropha as a source of biofuel. All parts of the malunggay plant are used whereas Jatropha is left with poisonous waste after oil extraction. Also, malunggay needs only one to two years for seedling maturation compared to Jatropha's three to five years. The math of malunggay's commercial potential is attractive: Seeds are bought at P10 per kilo, and a hectare of malunggay seedlings can harvest 20,000 kilos in 2 years with a potential profit of P200,000. (Philippine Star)
Toxicities
ª Root bark contains 2 alkaloids, as well as the toxic hypotensive moringinine.
ª Has dose-dependent negative inotropic effect, in isolated frog heart study.
• Niazinin A, niazimicin and niaziminin A and B isolated from the ethanol extract produced hypotensive, bradycardic and negative inotropic effects in experimental animals.
• The bark may cause violent uterine contractions that can be fatal. Chronic high-dose use may cause liver and kidney dysfunctions.
• In frequent or large doses, Interior flesh of the plant can cause toxic nerve paralysis from the alkaloid spirochin. source
Superstitions
Malunggay ingestion is avoided in the immediate period after a family member's death. In the superstitions-laden isms of rural Tagalog life, as a malunggay branch or twig will shed off all its leaves within a few hours of being snapped off a tree, ingesting malunggay might bring death to a relative. Avoiding its use is strongly advised during the ritual of nine days of prayers after a death.
Availability
Wild-crafted. Garden and back-yard cultivation, Commercial production of oil extracted from flowers.
Malunggay capsule (Natalac) - containing 250 mg dried young malunggay leaves, one to two capsules daily.
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE / Public Domain / File:Moringa oleifera Blanco1.125.png / Flora de Filipinas / Francisco Manuel Blanco (OSA), 1880-1883 / Modifications by Carol Spears / Wikipedia OTHER IMAGE SOURCE / Close-up Flower / File:Moringa Oleifera.jpg / Muhammad Mahdi Karim / 21 October 2007 / GNU Free Documentation License / Creative Commons Attribution / Wikipedia
Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Possible Role of Moringa oleifera Lam. Root in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer / Chinmoy K Bose MD / Medscape General Medicine / Published online 2007 February 6.
(2)
Anti-inflammtory and Antitumor Activities of Seeds Extracts of Malunggay
(3)
Antiasthmatic activity of Moringa oleifera Lam: A clinical study
(4)
Moringa oleifera: A Review of the Medical Evidence for Its Nutritional, Therapeutic, and Prophylactic Properties. Part 1. / Trees For Life Journal / TFLJournal.org / Jed W Fahey, Sc.D. / Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Dept of Pharma and Molecular Sciences.
(5)
Possible Role of Moringa oleifera Lam. Root in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer / Chinmoy K. Bose, MD, PhD, / MedGenMed. 2007; 9(1): 26. Published online 2007 February 6 /
(6)
Effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. root-wood on ethylene glycol induced urolithiasis in rats / doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.11.004 / Journal of Ethnopharmacology Vol 105, Issues 1-2, 21 April 2006, Pages 306-311
(7)
Studies on Traditional Water Purification Using MO seeds / African Study Monographs, 15(3):135-142, Nov 1994
(8)
Antipyretic and wound healing activities of moringa oleifera lam. in rats / Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences / 2006 | Vol 68 | Issue : 1 | Page : 124-126
(9)
Analgesic activity of seeds of Moringa oleifera Lam./ 2008 | Vol 2, Issue : 2 , pg108-110 / DOI: 10.4103/0973-8258.41182
(10)
Hepatoprotective Activity of Moringa oleifera Lam. Fruit on Isolated Rat Hepatocytes / PHCOG MAG.: Research Article/ Vol 4, Issue 15 (Suppl), Jul-Sep, 2008
(11)
Malunggay—Recent uses / Philippine Inquirer. Monica Feria. Oct 6, 2007
(12)
Malunggay oil as biofuel / Philippine Star. Helen Flores. April 11, 2008
(13)
Malunggay's Medicinal Magic / Ernesto Ordoñez / Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 12, 2007
(14)
Comparative Studies on Anthelmintic Activity of Moringa Oleifera and VitexNegundo / Trapti Rastogi et al / Asian J. Research Chem. 2(2): April.-June, 2009
(15)
Nutritional evaluation of Moringa Oleifera leaves and extract / Abd Elmoneim Osman Elkhalifa et al / Ahfad Journal, Dec, 2007
(16)
Useful Plants of the Philippines, Vol 1. A Scientific Guide to Modern Botanical Medicine / Rummel D J /2005
(17)
Comparison of Moringa oleifera Leaves Extract with Atenolol on Serum triglyceride, Serum Cholesterol, Blood glucose, heart weight, body weight in Adrenaline Induced Rats / Naznin Ara et al / Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 15 (2) 253-258 December, 2008
(18)
Moringa oleifera induced potentiation of serotonin release by 5-HT(3) receptors in experimental ulcer model / Debnath S, Biswas d, Ray K, Guha D / Phytomedicine. 2011 Jan 15;18(2-3):91-5. Epub 2010 Jul 16.
Moringa oleifera Lam prevents acetaminophen induced liver injury through restoration of glutathione level /
Fakurazi S, Hairuszah I, Nanthini U / Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Aug;46(8):2611-5. Epub 2008 Apr 25.
(19)
The in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant properties, hypolipidaemic and antiatherosclerotic activities of water extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves / Chumark P, Khunawat P, Sanvarinda Y, Phornchirasilp et al / J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Mar 28;116(3):439-46. Epub 2007 Dec 23.
(20)
Chemomodulatory effect of Moringa oleifera, Lam, on hepatic carcinogen metabolising enzymes, antioxidant parameters and skin papillomagenesis in mice / Bharali R, Tabassum J, Azad MR / Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2003 Apr-Jun;4(2):131-9.
(21)
Effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves aqueous extract therapy on hyperglycemic rats / Jaiswal D, Kumar Rai P, Kumar A, Mehta S, Watal G / J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Jun 25;123(3):392-6. Epub 2009 Apr 5.
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