We explain what this tropical tree with medicinal properties is used for.
Natural remedies are gaining strength in the scientific field, since their study can initially focus on confirming the benefits traditionally associated with these remedies instead of searching in the dark what the exploitable factors of these traditional medicines may be.
One of the traditional medicinal plants that has recently been studied by science is moringa . In this article we will explain what moringa is, as well as its multiple benefits and properties for our health, both nutritionally and at the level of alternative medicine.
what is moringa
Moringa ( Moringa oleifera ), also known as maranga in some areas of South America, is a tree native to the southern and western areas of the Himalayas, such as northern India or East Africa. Fast-growing and with a great capacity to grow both in arid climates and in humid subtropical zones, this tree is consumed mainly for its high nutritional value.
This tree has also been used medicinally by various cultures, to treat, for example, asthma, blackheads, colds or even cholera . This aroused the curiosity of the scientific world, which barely a couple of decades ago set out to study the bioactive elements of this plant to determine its medicinal capabilities.
Currently, a myriad of medicinal properties of moringa have been discovered, in addition to having a very high nutritional value and even being used in the world of cosmetics for its ability to improve the condition of the skin and hair.
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Nutritional benefits of moringa
Moringa leaves, fruits, flowers and immature pods are commonly consumed in countries such as India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Hawaii and several African countries. In the Philippines it is known as “a mother’s best friend”, as its consumption increases milk production and helps with anemic disorders .
At a strictly nutritional level, 100 grams of dry moringa leaves contain, among others:
- 10 times the vitamin A levels of carrots
- 12 times the amount of vitamin C in oranges
- 17 times more calcium than cow’s milk
- 15 times the amount of potassium in bananas
This overwhelming amount of nutrients has drawn the attention of plant study centers, especially Asian ones (since they are close to the endemic area of moringa), which have also determined that most of the nutrients in moringa leaves are also very resistant to handling for consumption, in some cases even increasing its bioavailability (that is, how much of the nutrient we can absorb) after processing.
This characteristic of moringa leaves is really interesting. Dried or boiled moringa leaves have between 3 and 4 times more bioavailable iron than fresh leaves , allowing the processing and storage of this plant in more economical conditions, which lowers its price and allows it to be better marketed while being beneficial for health.
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Health benefits of moringa
It is honestly very unusual for a plant to contain as many nutrients and health benefits as moringa. In some regions it is known as “the miraculous tree”, and it is not for less. The scientific studies that have been carried out on the different parts of the tree have obtained, at least, a specific benefit for the health of each one of the different sections studied.
The bioactive elements of moringa are mainly its vitamins (especially A, C and E), polyphenols, glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, tannins and saponins . These elements are apparently responsible for the healthy effects of moringa, some of which we present below:
1. Hypolipidemic effects
Several of the bioactive elements found in moringa influence lipid metabolism, to our benefit. Its phenolic compounds and flavonoids are capable of reducing the production of lipids and cholesterol , balancing their blood levels.
In addition, its saponins conjugate with cholesterol prior to its intestinal absorption, preventing a part of cholesterol from passing through the intestine and simply being evacuated through fecal excretion, thus further lowering cholesterol levels in blood plasma.
2. Antioxidant effects
Moringa is rich in antioxidants, which are suspected to play an important role in the prevention of inflammatory diseases, cancer, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases. Its phenolic compounds, saponins, terpenes and vitamins have antioxidant properties, which would reduce the damaging effects of free radicals on the body .
3. Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects
Moringa leaf extracts are capable of reducing the inflammatory activity of macrophages, which, for example, increases in the presence of tobacco smoke. Chronic levels of inflammation can lead to painful inflammatory conditions or carcinogenic processes, and moringa may be able to reduce the risk of these.
In addition to reducing the inflammatory response, moringa leaf extract is also capable of stimulating our immune response , both at the cellular and humoral levels, by increasing the number of leukocytes and serum immunoglobulins, important parts of our immune system.
4. Hepatoprotective effects
The hepatoprotective effects of moringa, that is, its ability to protect the liver, seems to originate from its high content of flavonoids such as quercetin. Moringa leaves decrease the levels of liver damage markers , suggesting a protective capacity of this organ.
5. Antidiabetic effects
Oddly enough given the length of this list of health benefits, moringa also has antidiabetic effects. Moringa leaf extracts facilitate homeostasis (maintaining normal levels) of glucose , which is of vital importance today, when diabetes represents a global epidemic with more and more affected.
6. Hypotensive effects
Cardiovascular health could be greatly improved by consuming moringa leaves. In addition to lowering blood lipid levels (avoiding the accumulation of cholesterol in our veins and arteries), moringa leaves contain several compounds currently used to lower blood pressure .
These effects are still being studied at the animal level, but added to the traditional use of this medication, future clinical studies in humans look very promising.
7. Anti-cancer effects
Moringa has been studied on several occasions for its possible protective effect against cancer. The antioxidant capacity of moringa could already be argued as capable of generating this anti-cancer effect, but moringa extract is capable of fighting cancer in other ways.
Both moringa leaves and its bark have the ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells obtained from breast, pancreatic, colorectal, and lung tissue . It also decreases the viability of some types of leukemia and hepatocarcinomas.
There are other possible benefits of moringa, such as its neuroprotective capacity that would help us avoid degenerative diseases of the nervous system such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
It is a medicinal and nutritious plant with great expectations for the future in the field of medicine and nutrition, so we look forward to clinical studies that confirm and commercialize these benefits of moringa for humans.
Bibliographic references
- Vergara-Jimenez, M., Almatrafi, MM, & Fernandez, ML (2017). Bioactive Components in Moringa Oleifera Leaves Protect against Chronic Disease. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 6(4), 91.
- Kou, X., Li, B., Olayanju, JB, Drake, JM, & Chen, N. (2018). Nutraceutical or Pharmacological Potential of Moringa oleifera Lam. Nutrients, 10(3), 343.
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