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Encyclopaedic profile of

MORINGA OLEIFERA Lam. .                                  MORINGACEAE

(= Moringa pterygosperma Gaertn., Moringa stenopetala Lam. and

Guilandina moringa L.)

C. KAMESWARA RAO and ASSUMPTA SHARON

        Moringa oleifera is a beautiful tree, native of India, wild in the Sub-Himalayan range and cultivated throughout the tropics. The genus Moringa includes 12 species distributed in North Eastern and South Western Africa, Madagascar and Arabia. Moringa concanensis Nimmo, frequent in the Yercaud area of the Salem district in Tamil Nadu, is the second species occurring in India. Moringa concanensis appears to be hardly known and deserves to be studied for its medicinal potential.

        Eng.: Horse-radish tree, Drumstick; Hin.: Segve, Sahinjan, Soanjna shevga; Kan.: Nugge; Mal.: Murina, Murunna; Tam.: Murungai; Tel.: Munaga, Mulaga; Sans.: Sobhanjana, Sigru, Murungi.

Parts Used

Stem bark, root bark, fruit, flowers, leaves, seeds and gum.

        In different systems of medicine the various parts of the plant (except the seeds) are considered as an aphrodisiac, antispasmodic, vermifuge, anti-inflammatory, body stimulant, cardiotonic, circulatory stimulant, abortifacient, diuretic, antilithic, antiseptic, anthelmintic, carminative and digestive. Also considered to promote semen and improve the eyes.

        Various parts of the plant are used in paralytic affliction, facial palsy, bowel complaints, urinary calculi, diabetes, epilepsy, hysteria, gout, lumbago, rheumatism, skin ailments, ulcers, enlargement of the spleen and liver and tumours, animal bites and eye diseases (Nadkarni, 1954; Chopra et al., 1956; Watt and Breyer - Brandwijk, 1962; Ramachandran et al., 1980).

        Fresh root is acrid and vesicant.Fresh root of the young tree is given in intermittent fevers. The root is applied externally as a poultice in inflammation, as a valuable rubefacient in "palsy, dropsy and bites of rabid animals". The essential oil is mixed with mustard seeds and green ginger and used as a counter-irritant and a blistering agent.

        An infusion of the roots is recommended for asthma, and is useful in ascites due to the diseases of the liver and spleen. It may also be used for dropsy, in soreness of the mouth and throat, and pain in the gum due to dental caries, as an analgesic (hoarseness and relapsed sore throat) and also used in hiccups.

        The root increases body heat, is an antiphlegmatic. A compound spirit made in the usual way of equal parts of the root and orange peel with a little nutmeg bruised is used as a carminative. It is considered a strong stimulant found useful in fainting fits, giddiness, nervous debility, spasmodic affections of the bowels, hysteria, flatulence, fever, chest pain, internal abscess, earache, eczema, threadworm and eye inflammation. In Nigeria the root is used as an antiscorbutic and acts as an external counter irritant (Dalziel, 1937).

        Root and root bark and stem bark are used as an abortifacient.

        Freshly expressed juice of the root bark and the gum is mixed with sesamum oil and is dropped into the ears in otalgia.

The paste of the root bark is used orally in urinary calculi (Ca.Ci : 26.166).

The stem bark is an emmenagogue.

        The bark and leaf induce sweating, used in anorexia and external ulcers. They bring about a reduction in weight, increase the liquidity of stools subside abscesses.