Multipurpose tree: Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam)

Moringaoleifera is a multi-purpose herbal plant used as human food and an alternative for medicinal purposes worldwide. Its different parts are source of proteins, vitamins and minerals and have different pharmacological and biotechnological potential. Various parts of this plant such as the leaves, roots, seed, bark, fruit, flowers and immature pods act asanti-asthmatic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antiulcer, antihypertensive, cholesterol lowering, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antibacterial, hepatoprotective and antifungal activities. Moreover, M. oleifera seeds are widely used in water treatment due to their coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation properties by reducing organic matter and microbial load. Moringa leaves contain 21.8 per cent crude protein, 22.8 per cent acid detergent fiber and 30.8 per cent neutral detergent fiber as well as 412.0 g/kg of crude fat, 211.2 g/kg of carbohydrates and 44.3 g/kg of ash which are useful to increase livestock production. In addition, due to its high nutritional value and several medicinal properties, this tree may act as a nutritional and medical alternative for socially neglected population. In this context, a brief overview about multipurposes of Moringa oleifera, emphasizing its chemical constituents, nutritional, pharmacological and antimicrobial properties, applications in the treatment of water effluents, social and environmental aspects have been delineated.