Phytochemical, nutraceutical and pharmacological attributes of a functional crop Moringa oleifera Lam: An overview

Moringa oleifera Lam belonging to family Moringaceae is a plant with high nutritional and medicinal value. The plant is native to India; however, it is now spread to the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The genus consists of 13 species and they are being cultivated in Asia, Africa and another part of the world for the multiple uses. Different part of the plants is a rich source of protein, lipid, carbohydrates, amino acids, vitamin and minerals. Hence, it is used as dietary supplements in the tropics as a nutrient source where malnutrition is a major concern, especially in children and infants. Seeds of the plant have coagulant and bio sorbent property which allows it to be used in purifying water quality and reduce the microbial load. The present review highlights information regarding the traditional uses, phytoconstituents, pharmacological attributes viz., antioxidant, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective etc. and toxicological aspects of M. oleifera species in order to explore further their therapeutic potential and assess future research dimensions.