Moringa – a vegetable tree for improved nutrition, health and income of smallholder farmers

Andreas W. Ebert1 & Manuel C. Palada2

1AVRDC – The World Vegetable CenterShanhua, Tainan 74199, Taiwan

2Central Philippines University, Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines

World Congress on Agroforestry 201410-14 February 2014, Delhi, India

Trees for Life: Accelerating the impact of Agroforestry

Leaves

Pods

Flowers

SeedsRoots

Bark

Gum

NutritionMedicin

e

NutritionMedicine

Water purificationMedicine

Oil

MedicineCosmetics

DyesMedicine

MedicineCondiment

StemFuel wood

PulpPaper

Drumstick tree (Moringa oleifera)

MedicineGlue

Genetic diversity of Moringa spp. (13 species)

Source: Olsen 2001. In: The Miracle Tree

drouhardii Madagascarhildebrandtii Madagascarstenopetala Kenya, Ethiopiaovalifolia Namibia, Angola

concanensis India, Pakistan, Bangladesholeifera India

peregrina Arabia, Red Sea area

arborea Kenya

rivae Kenya, Ethiopiaborziana Kenya, Somaliapygmaea Somalia

longituba Kenya, Ethiopia, Somaliaruspoliana Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia

Caricaceae

Bottle trees

Slender trees

Tuberous shrubs and trees of northeast Africa

Moringa species in AVRDC’s collection (64 accessions)

M. oleifera(60 acc.)

M. drouhardii

(1 acc.)

Moringa species in AVRDC’s collection

M. peregrina

(1 acc.)

M. stenopetala

(1 acc.)

Moringa oleifera

widely cultivated in tropical lowlands Native to the Indian Subcontinent Fast-growing, perennial softwood vegetable tree Adapted to hot, semi-arid regions (400-500 mm

rainfall) Susceptible to flooding leaves important for fresh market and dry processing

into moringa powder and other products 1000 seed weight: 186.6 - 352.7 g.

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

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

Source: AVRDC Nutrition Lab data

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.

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

Fortified food products and supplements of moringa

Instant Noodle Moringa Capsule Moringa Powder

Coffee Moringa Drink Garlic Bread Taro Chips Tea

Fig. 7. Moringa fortified food products and supplements

Instant Noodle Moringa Capsule Moringa Powder

Coffee Moringa Drink Garlic Bread Taro Chips Tea

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.

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.

Body treatment solution Body butter Shower creams, shampoos

Bath soap Moringa oilBath foamAnti-aging cream

Cosmetic products with moringa ingredients

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

Moringa cultivationPlant 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 2,254Source: 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

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.

First International Symposium on Moringa 19 – 21 November 2015

Manila, Philippines

ThemeMoringa – 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

www.avrdc.org

The World Vegetable Center @ 40

“Prosperity for the Poor and Health for All”

Thank you for your attention!