Moringa oleifera (SONJNA)

Moringa oleifera (synonym: Moringa pterygosperma) is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Moringa, which is the only genus in the family Moringaceae. English common names include moringa, benzolive tree, and West Indian ben. It is also known as drumstick tree, from the appearance of the long, slender, triangular seed pods, horseradish tree, from the taste of the roots which resembles horseradish, or ben oil tree, from the oil derived from the seeds. The tree itself is rather slender, with drooping branches that grow to approximately 10m in height. In cultivation, it is often cut back annually to 1-2 meters and allowed to regrow so the pods and leaves remain within arm's reach.
In developing countries, moringa has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and support sustainable landcare. It may be used as forage for livestock, a micronutrient liquid, a natural anthelmintic and possible adjuvant.

ETYMOLOGY
The Chinese name, pronounced la mu in Mandarin and lat mok in Cantonese, means "spicy (hot) wood" and is reminiscent of the English name, "horseradish tree". In Mooré (Burkina Faso), it is called arzan tiiga which means "tree of paradise". In Zarma (Niger), it is called windi bundu which means (loosely) "fencepost wood", a reference to its use as live fencing. The leaves are so common that the Zarma word kopto (leaf) is synonymous with cooked moringa leaves.

General nutrition

Many parts of the moringa are edible. Regional uses of the moringa as food vary widely, and include:
The immature seed pods, called "drumsticks", popular in Asia and Africa.
Leaves, particularly in the Cambodia, Philippines, South India and Africa.
Mature seeds
Oil pressed from the mature seeds
Roots
In some regions, the young seed pods are most commonly eaten, while in others, the leaves are the most commonly used part of the plant. The flowers are edible when cooked and are said to taste like mushrooms. The bark, sap, roots, leaves, seeds, oil, and flowers are used in traditional medicine in several countries. In Jamaica, the sap is used for a blue dye.
[edit]Drumsticks
The immature seed pods, called "drumsticks", are commonly consumed in South Asia. They are prepared by parboiling, and cooked in a sauce until soft. The seed pods are particularly high in vitamin C.
[edit]Leaves
The leaves are the most nutritious part of the plant, being a significant source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, provitamin A as beta-carotene, magnesium and protein, among other nutrients reported by the USDA, shown in the table, right column.When compared with common foods particularly high in certain nutrients, fresh moringa leaves are considerable sources of these same nutrients.
Nutrients Common food Moringa Leaves
Vitamin A Carrot 1.8 mg 6.8 mg
Calcium Milk 120 mg 440 mg
Potassium Banana 88 mg 259 mg
Protein Yogurt 3.1 g 6.7 g
Vitamin C Orange 30 mg 220 mg
Some of the calcium in moringa leaves is bound as crystals of calcium oxalate which may inhibit calcium availability to the body. It is not clear whether the calculation of the reported amount of calcium in moringa leaves includes such non-bioavailable calcium.


Sonjna (Moringa oleifera) leaves with flowers in Kolkata, West Bengal, India
The leaves are cooked and used like spinach. In addition to being used fresh as a substitute for spinach, its leaves are commonly dried and crushed into a powder used in soups and sauces. It is important to remember that like most plants heating moringa above 140 degrees Fahrenheit will destroy some of the nutritional value.
[edit]Seeds
The seeds, sometimes removed from more mature pods and eaten like peas or roasted like nuts, contain high levels of vitamin C and moderate amounts of B vitamins and dietary minerals (right table, USDA).
[edit]Seed oil
Mature seeds yield 38–40% edible oil called ben oil from its high concentration of behenic acid. The refined oil is clear and odorless, and resists rancidity. The seed cake remaining after oil extraction may be used as a fertilizer or as a flocculent to purify water. Moringa seed oil also has potential for use as a biofuel.
[edit]Roots
The roots are shredded and used as a condiment in the same way as horseradish; however, they contain an alkaloid,potentially having nerve-paralyzing properties.[citation needed]


Malnutrition relief

Moringa trees have been used to combat malnutrition, especially among infants and nursing mothers. Four NGOs in particular — Trees for Life International, Church World Service, Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization, and Volunteer Partnerships for West Africa — have advocated moringa as "natural nutrition for the tropics." One author stated that "the nutritional properties of Moringa are now so well known that there seems to be little doubt of the substantial health benefit to be realized by consumption of Moringa leaf powder in situations where starvation is imminent." Moringa is especially promising as a food source in the tropics because the tree is in full leaf at the end of the dry season when other foods are typically scarce.