Moringa oleifera Seeds and Oil: Characteristics and Uses for Human Health

Abstract

Moringa oleifera seeds are a promising resource for food and non-food applications, due to their content of monounsaturated fatty acids with a high monounsaturated/saturated fatty acids (MUFA/SFA) ratio, sterols and tocopherols, as well as proteins rich in sulfated amino acids. The rapid growth of Moringa trees in subtropical and tropical areas, even under conditions of prolonged drought, makes this plant a reliable resource to enhance the nutritional status of local populations and, if rationalized cultivation practices are exploited, their economy, given that a biodiesel fuel could be produced from a source not in competition with human food crops. Despite the relatively diffuse use of Moringa seeds and their oil in traditional medicine, no pharmacological activity study has been conducted on humans. Some encouraging evidence, however, justifies new efforts to obtain clear and definitive information on the benefits to human health arising from seed consumption. A critical review of literature data concerning the composition of Moringa oil has set in motion a plan for future investigations. Such investigations, using the seeds and oil, will focus on cultivation conditions to improve plant production, and will study the health effects on human consumers of Moringa seeds and their oil.

The Potential of Some Moringa Species for Seed Oil Production

“…Several factors contribute for this widespread interest, including its easy cultivation in a variable range of climatic and geographical conditions, its high production yields, the multipurpose uses of all its vegetative structures (leaves, flowers, immature pods, seeds, etc. ), with nutritional relevance for humans and animals, a traditional use for medicinal purposes, in agroforestry systems and for water purification [2][3][4][5][6]. Its seeds are rich in oil, used for cosmetic and perfume production since ancient times, as lubricants in machinery and, more recently, for biodiesel production [7][8][9].…”

Estudo Prospectivo Da Moringa Na Indústria De Cosméticos

“…(FOIDL et al, 2001;NADEEM e IMRAN, 2016;OLSON e FAHEY, 2011, LEONE et al, 2016 Mesmo o país sendo um dos principais consumidores da indústria cosmética e o maior fabricante de cosméticos que usam Moringa, como visto na pesquisa mercadológica, no que diz respeito aos depósitos de patentes, o Brasil fica atrás de países como China, Estados Unidos, Alemanha, Japão, França, Reino Unido, Índia e Coreia do Sul.…”

“…(OLSON e FAHEY, 2011) Por conta de suas propriedades, a Moringa é considerada uma fonte excepcional de vitamina A, vitaminas B e C, sendo o alto teor de proteínas provindo de suas folhas, galhos e do óleo de suas sementes, além do fato que poucas partes da árvore contém quaisquer toxinas (FOIDL et al, 2001;OLSON e FAHEY, 2011), possibilitando a utilização de quase toda sua extensão. O uso na alimentação humana e animal, no tratamento de água, na produção de biodiesel, na indústria cosmética, na medicina e indústria farmacêutica, são exemplos do aproveitamento dos benefícios ocasionados pelas particularidades da Moringa oleifera (NADEEM e IMRAN, 2016;OLSON e FAHEY, 2011, LEONE et al, 2016.…”

Moringa Seed Dehulling Machine: A New Conceptual Design

“…Arthritis, rheumatism, sexually transmitted diseases, hypertension and so on; can be treated using the seed and its oil [7]. The tree itself is rather slender, with drooping branches that grow to approximately 10 metres in height [8]. Moringa is grown in the tropical regions in which Nigeria is part of them.…”