Moringa – a vegetable tree for improved nutrition, health and income of smallholder farmers - by Andreas W. Ebert and Manuel C. Palada

2. Leaves
Pods
Flowers
Seeds
Root
s
Bark
Gum
Nutrition
Medicine
Nutrition
Medicine
Water
purification
Medicine
Oil
Medicine
Cosmetics
Dyes
Medicine
Medicine
Condiment
Stem
Fuel wood
Pulp
Paper
Medicine
Glue

4. Moringa species in AVRDC’s collection
(64 accessions)

5. Moringa species in AVRDC’s collection

6. Moringa oleifera
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7. Nutritional composition of moringa
 Moringa leaves are eaten fresh, cooked, or stored as fresh powder
 Drying moringa leaves at 50 oC for 16 h maintained nutrient and
phytochemical levels, except vitamin C
 Boiling leaves and dried powder enhanced AOA (x 3.5) and
increased bioavailable iron (x 3) (> Fe in mungbean)
Micronutrients Tomato Moringa Nutrient content of
moringa relative to tomato
Β-carotene, mg 0.40 15.28 x 38.2
Vitamin C, mg 19 459 x 24.2
Vitamin E, mg 1.16 25.25 x 21.8
Iron, mg 0.54 10.09 x 18.7
Folates, µg 5 93 x 18.6
Antioxidant
activity, TE
323 2858 x 8.8

8. Nutritional composition of moringa in
comparison with other vegetable crops
Micronu-
trients
Tomato Cabbage Moringa Ama-
ranth
Slippery
cabbage
Sweet
potato
leaf
β-carotene,
mg
0.40 0.00 15.28 9.23 5.11 6.82
Vitamin C,
mg
19 22 459 113 82 81
Vitamin E,
mg
1.16 0.05 25.25 3.44 4.51 4.69
Iron, mg 0.54 0.30 10.09 5.54 1.40 1.88
Folates, µg 5 ND 93 78 177 39
Antioxidant
activity, TE
323 496 2858 394 560 870

9. Nutritional highlights of Moringa oleifera
 Among 4 moringa species (oleifera, stenopetala, peregrina
drouhardii) M. oleifera had the highest concentration of β-carotene,
ascorbate (vitamin C), α-tocopherol (vitamin E), and iron and the
second highest protein content (after stenopetala).
 Antinutrients: oligosaccharides (stachyose, raffinose) not detected in
mature moringa leaves; oxalate content lower than in spinach
leaves.
 Moringa leaves are rich in protein (9.4 g/100 g FW), comprising all
essential amino acids in well balanced proportions. Cooking
increased protein digestibility of leaves by 20.7%.
 Moringa is an ideal crop to combat malnutrition. Dried leaf powder is
processed into capsules and used as energy and health
supplement. Leaf powder added to soybean and groundnut/peanut
paste is used as ready-to-use food (RUF) for treatment of severe
acute malnutrition of children and pregnant/nursing mothers.

11.  Quicker recovery of weight-for-age (underweight) and
weight-for-height (wasting)
Rehabilitation of severely malnourished
children with moringa in Ouagadougou
 Greater improvement in wasting and underweight metrics
 Average daily weight gain:
8.9 g/kg/d with moringa vs. 5.7 g/kg/d with standard
porridge
 Average length of care at inpatient rehabilitation unit:
36 days w/ moringa vs. 57 days w/ standard porridge
 No significant difference in height over course of study
 Profound change in frequency of diarrhea:
8% w/ moringa vs. 80% w/ standard porridge
Source: Zongo et al. 2013

12. Fortified food products and
supplements of moringa
Instant Noodle Moringa Capsule Moringa Powder
Coffee Moringa DrinkGarlic Bread Taro ChipsTea
Fig. 7. Moringa fortified food products and supplements
Instant Noodle Moringa Capsule Moringa Powder
Coffee Moringa DrinkGarlic Bread Taro ChipsTea

13. Medicinal uses of moringa
 Moringa is rich in glucosinulates and isothiocyanates (ITCs). ITCs
inhibit mitosis and stimulate apoptosis, eliminating DNA-damaged,
unwanted cells in human tumor cells. Plant material with high
glucosinulate content (like moringa) is desirable for cancer therapy.
 Moringa contains rhamnose, a deoxyhexose sugar found widely in
glycoconjugates of plants and bacteria, not in animals and humans;
used for therapeutic interventions.
 Dietary or topical administration of moringa as extracts, decoctions,
creams, oils, powders, and porridges have antibiotic,
antitrypanasomal, hypotensive, antispasmodic, antiulcer, anti-
inflammatory, hypo-cholersterolemic, and hypoglycemic activities.
 Consumption of moringa leaves enhances lactation and postpartum
milk production of mothers with preterm infants.
 Moringa powder acts as immune stimulant in HIV/AIDS treatment.
 Reduction in skin papillomas was observed following ingestion of
moringa seedpod extracts.

14.  The mechanism of cardio protection involves the prevention of the
disruption in cardiac myofibrils, possibly through a reduction of oxidative
stress leading to improved cardiac contractile function.
 Isoproterenol generates free radicals and stimulates lipid peroxidation, a
causative factor for damaging the myocardial tissues.
 Thus, it appears that the beneficial action of the indole alkaloid from
moringa is mediated through its free radical scavenging property.

15. Body treatment solution Body butter Shower creams, shampoos
Bath soap Moringa oilBath foamAnti-aging cream
Cosmetic products with moringa ingredients

16.  Animal forage; green manure
Agronomic, horticultural and industrial uses
 Foliar nutrient for enhancing growth (growth regulator)
 Fertilizer (seed cake)
 Fungicide (leaves incorporated into soil)
 Biogas; blue dye (wood); gum (tree trunk)
 Honey clarification (powdered seeds); water purification (seed
cake)
 Oil for cooking or lubrication; biofuel production
 Windbreak or living fence; support for climbers (yams, beans)
 Component of agroforestry systems for sustainable vegetable
production and intercropping

17. Moringa cultivation
Plant density
(plants/ha
Fresh matter
(t/ha/cutting)
Dry matter
(t/ha)
Protein
(kg/ha)
95,000 19.6 3.33 566
350,000 29.7 5.05 859
900,000 52.6 8.94 1,520
1,000,000 78.0 13.26 2,254
Source: Fuglie 2001
 Philippines: 159,000 plants/ha; 1500 kg urea per ha; harvest
every 4 weeks > 100% return on investment.
Plant
density
Net benefit (US$)
1,600
plants/ha
1st year 2nd year 3rd year
7,367 11,985 12,017
India, Odisha
State; Saha et al.
2012)
Source: Mamaril 2010

18.  Moringa has good potential
to fight hunger and
malnutrition, at low cost
Conclusion
 Significant increase of income
of smallholder farmers
 Enhancing environmental
services (control of soil and wind
erosion; shade; clean water)
 Good adaptability – high value
for sustainable food production
and climate change scenarios.

19. First International Symposium on Moringa
19 – 21 November 2015
Manila, Philippines
Theme
Moringa – A Decade of Advances in Research & Development
Topics:
• Ethnobotany, Genetics, Biodiversity
• Propagation
• Climate, Soil and Agronomy
• Cropping Systems and Production Economics
• Harvesting, Postharvest and Processing
• Nutritional Quality
• Medicinal Properties
• Livestock Feed
• Industrial Uses: Biofuel, Cosmetics, Water
Treatment
• Farmer Participatory, Community Livelihood
MPFI
http://www.moringaling.net
http://www.ishs.org/symposium/488.
First
Announcement

20. The World Vegetable Center @ 40
“Prosperity for the Poor and Health for All”

21. Thank you for your attention!