Moringa spp: Composition and bioactive properties

Moringa spp. seeds has recently been characterizedwith regard to its seed oil potential. Mature seeds of Moringa plant contains 38-54% edible oil. The oil of Moringa spp. seeds were found to contain high level of unsaturated fatty acids. The dominant saturated fatty acids were palmitic, lauric acid, stearic, linoleic and linolenic acid. Oleic acid was the most abundant of the unsaturated fatty acids found in Moringa oleifera seed oil. The major sterol components of the M. oleifera seed oil were beta-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol and Delta(5), avenasterol. The major sterol components of the Moringa oil were alpha-, gamma- and delta-tocopherols. Moringa oleifera is an important food commondity which has had enormous attention as the natural nutrition of the tropics. The extracts from Moringa spp. could be an effective source of natural antimicrobials with versatile potential applications. Traditionally, almost all parts of Moringa flower, fruits and roots are edible, and have long been consumed as vegetable. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of SAAB.