Gli antichi Egiziani usavano l’olio di Moringa oleifera a scopo cosmetico e per la cura della pelle [1]; anche gli antichi Greci ed i Romani conoscevano le sue proprietà benefiche [2].

Nella medicina ayurvedica indiana il fogliame viene impiegato da più di 2000 anni per la prevenzione e il trattamento di ben 300 tipi diversi di malori [3], usano anche i semi per la produzione di detergenti antisettici.

Le foglie di M. oleifera sono ricche di proteine, minerali, beta-carotene ed altri composti antiossidanti, mantengono un elevato contenuto di componenti nutritive pregiate anche dopo l’essicazione. In Africa costituiscono da sempre un importante fonte di cibo, anche i semi sono edibili e possono essere impiegati per la produzione di biodiesel [4]. I residui della spremitura sono stati usati anche per depurare le falde acquifere inquinate.
In Kenia viene impiegata in medicina popolare per il trattamento di diabete e disturbi metabolici [5].

BIOSTIMOLANTE
Degli estratti di M. oleifera sono stati testati con successo anche come stimolanti naturali per la crescita delle colture di grano, mais e riso [24].

CHELANTE
I semi di M. oleifera contengono proteine cationiche dimeriche che assorbono e neutralizzano le cariche colloidali, tipiche dell’acqua torbida o impura [25].

Steroli: campesterolo, stigmasterolo, β-sitosterolo ed altri;

terpenoidi: linalolo, cariofillene, violaxantina, β-carotene, zeaxantina, neoxantina, luteina, fitolo, umulene;

flavonoidi: miricetina, quercetina, campferolo, isoarmnetina, apigenina, naringenina, rutina;

alcaloidi: niazimicina, , vincosamide, aurnatiamide acetato, moringine, moringinine;

glicosidi: niazirina, niazirinina, marumosidi, niaziminine;

saponine;

antraquinoni;

glucosinati;

isotiocinati;

acidi fenolici: caffeico, clorogenico, cumarico, ellagico, ferulico, gallico;

carotenoidi: luteina.

Le foglie di Moringa oleifera sono ricche di proteine, vitamine (A, B1, B2, B6, C) e minerali (ferro, potassio).
Una volta essiccate il contenuto di proteine supera il 20% del peso secco [26].

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