Moringa: A natural boon for health to mankind and livestocks

Drumstick (Moringa oleifera) also known as “horseradish tree” and “ben tree”, is a very important medicinal evergreen/ deciduous tree which can prevent more than 300 human diseases. All plant parts (pods, leaves, seeds, flowers, roots) are utilized for different nutritional and pharmaceutical purposes for human beings and livestocks. Moringa is a store house of rich nutrients like calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron and vitamins. The phytochemicals (flavonoids, alkanoides, perpenoides) present in moringa has strong anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-biofilm, hepatoprotective and anti-oxidant activities. The nutritive value and pharmaceutical properties of this plant has been discussed in this paper.