Use of Moringa oleifera as a complementary food fortificant

Abstract

Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae) is a highly valued plant, distributed in many countries of the tropics and subtropics. Moringa oleifera grown and used in many countries around the world is a multi-purpose tree with medicinal, nutritional and socioeconomic values. Most plant parts of the Moringa are edible. It is already established the medicinal uses of M. Oleifera leaves by different local communities of world and identified several phytochemicals present in M. oleifera extracts. Malnutrition causes a great deal of human suffering and is associated with more than half of all deaths of children worldwide. Malnutrition severely affects the socio-economic development of a nation because a work force that is stunted both mentally and physically may have a reduced work capacity. Thus nutrition plays an important role in the reproduction of poverty from one generation to the next. Not only is the M.oleifera tree extraordinary in that all parts of the tree are edible, but the most amazing aspect of the tree is its exceptionally high nutritional value. Moringa tree can be utilized in treating the malnutrition in a local and cost-effective manner. Present review focuses on the potential benefits of M. oleifera in treatment of malnutrition.