Moringa oleifera Lam.

(Moringaceae) Benzolive Tree, Drumstick Tree, Horseradish Tree, West Indian Ben (Medicine)

Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) Benzolive Tree, Drumstick Tree, Horseradish Tree, West Indian Ben Synonyms

Guilandina moringa L., Moringa moringa (L.) Small, M. pterygosperma Gaertn. Medicinal Uses (Horseradish Tree)

In rural Sudan, powdered seeds are used to purify drinking water by coagulation. In trials, the powder was toxic to guppies (Poecilia reticulata), protozoa (Tetrahymena pyriformis), and bacteria (Escherichia coli), and it inhibited acetylcholinesterase. It might serve as a fruit- and vegetable-preservative. In low concentrations, it protects mice against staphylococcus infections. Juice from the leaves and stem bark inhibits Staphyloccoccus aureus but not Escherichia coli. One study showed bark extracts active against Bacillus subtilis, Dip. pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus pyogenes, Salmonella typhosa, Shigella dysenteri, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Vibrio comma. Bark extract fungicidal to Candida albicans, Helminthosporium sativum, Microsporum gypseum, and Trichiphyton mentagrophytes. The 50% ethan-olic extract of root bark (devoid of antibacterial activity) was antiviral to the vaccinia virus but not Ranikhet disease virus, but it did inhibit its replication. Ether leaf extracts were bacteriostatic to Staphylococcus aureus and S. typhosa. Alcohol extracts may contain an adrenergic neurone blocking agent (MPI). The root alkaloid, spirochin, paralyzes the vagus nerve, hinders infection, and has antimycotic and analgesic activity. In doses of 15 g, the root bark is abortifacient. Alcoholic root bark extract is analgesic, antiedemic, and antiinflammatory at 500-1000 mg/kg orally in albino rats (MPI). Aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts antibacterial, hypotensive, sedative, and respirastimulant. Root-bark yields two alkaloids, moringine and moringinine. Moringinine acts as a cardiac stimulant, produces rise of blood pressure, acts on sympathetic nerve endings as well as smooth muscles all over the body, and depresses the sympathetic motor fibers of vessels in large doses only. Extracts of Moringa increased glutathione-S-transferase activity >78% in esophagus, liver, and stomach, enough to be considered chemopreventive (Aruna and Sivaramakrishnan, 1990). Indications (Horseradish Tree)

Abscess (f; KAB; PH2); Adenosis (f; KAP; NUT); Alopecia (f; NUT; SKJ); Ameba (1; TRA); Arthrosis (1; FNF; KAB; KAP; PH2; SUW); Ascites (f; HHB; NUT); Asthma (f; IED; KAP); Bacteria (1; FNF; KAP; MPI; WBB); Biliousness (f; KAB); Boil (f; KAP; NUT); Burn (f; JLH; NUT; TRA); Calculus (f; KAB); Cancer (1; FNF; JLH; JAC7:405); Cancer, abdomen (1; PH2; JAC7:405); Cancer, colon (1; JLH; JAC7:405); Cancer, esophagus (1; JAC7:405); Cancer, liver (1; JLH; JAC7:405); Cancer, nasopharynx (1; KAP; MPI); Cancer, spleen (f; JLH); Cancer, stomach (1; JAC7:405); Cardiopathy (f; PH2); Caries (f; SKJ; SUW); Catarrh (f; HHB; KAP; NUT); Cholera (1; SKJ; WBB); Circulosis (f; SUW); Cold (f; JFM); Colic (f; PH2); Constipation (f; PH2); Convulsion (f; NUT); Cough (f; JFM; KAP); Cramp (f; SUW); Cystosis (f; BOW); Dandruff (f; PH2); Debility (f; SUW); Dermatosis (f; JFM; PH2); Diabetes (f; PH2); Dropsy (f; IED; KAP; NUT); Dysentery (f; NUT); Dysmenorrhea (f; SKJ); Dyspepsia (f; KAP; PH2); Dysuria (f; NUT); Earache (f; IED); Edema (1; JFM; PH2; JAC7:405); Enterosis (f; JLH; PH2); Epilepsy (1; ABS; IED; PH2; SUW); Erysipelas (f; NUT); Escherichia (1; TRA; WOI); Esophagosis (1; JAC7:405); Fever (f; IED; JFM; PH2; SUW); Fracture (f; SKJ); Fungus (1; FNF; MPI; WBB); Gas (f; KAB; SUW); Gastrosis (f; PH2); Gingivosis (f; KAB); Gout (f; IED; KAP); Gravel (f; NUT; SKJ); Hallucination (f; KAB); Headache (f; JFM; PH2); Heart (f; KAB); Hematuria (f; NUT; SKJ); Hepatosis (f; HHB; JLH; SUW); Hiccup (f; KAB); Hoarseness (f; KAB); Hysteria (f; IED; KAB; SUW); Induration (f; JLH); Infection (1; FNF; KAP; WBB); Infertility (f; NUT); Inflammation (1; FNF; KAB; KAP; PH2; JAC7:405); Leprosy (f; KAB); Leukemia (f; KAP; MPI); Lumbago (f; KAB; PH2); Madness (f; NUT); Maggot (f; NUT); Malaria (f; JFM; KAP; PH2; SUW); Mycosis (1; HHB; MPI; NUT); Myosis (f; KAB); Nephrosis (f; JFM); Neuralgia (f; KAB; NUT); Odontosis (f; BOW); Oligolactea (f; BOW); Ophthalmia (f; KAB); Pain (f; JFM; KAP; SKJ; SUW); Palsy (f; KAB; SUW); Pancreatosis (f; WBB); Paralysis (f; KAB; PH2; SUW); Pharyngosis (f; KAB; KAP); Pneumonia (f; NUT; SKJ); Rheumatism (1; FNF; IED; JFM; KAP; PH2; SUW); Rhinosis (1; KAP); Salmonella (1; TRA; WOI); Scabies (f; NUT); Scirrhus (f; JLH); Scrofula (f; NUT); Septicemia (f; BOW); Shigella (1; TRA; WOI); Snakebite (f; IED; PH2); Sore (f; KAB; PH2); Sore Throat (f; KAB); Spasm (f; IED); Splenomegaly (f; PH2); Splenosis (f; JLH; HHB; PH2; SUW); Staphylococcus (1; MPI; WBB; WOI); Stomatosis (f; KAB); Stone (f; BOW); Streptococcus (1; WBB); Swelling (f; JFM; KAP); Syncope (f; KAB; SUW); Syphilis (f; NUT); Tetanus (f; KAB; SUW); Toothache (f; NUT); Tuberculosis (1; KAP); Tumor (1; FNF; NUT); Ulcer (f; BOW; IED); VD (f; NUT; SUW); Vertigo (f; NUT; PH2); Virus (1; FNF; KAP; MPI); Wart (f; JFM); Worm (f; JFM; PH2); Wound (f; IED; PH2); Yellow Fever (f; IED; NUT). Horseradish Tree for cancer:

 AntiHIV: caffeic-acid; quercetin Antiaggregant: caffeic-acid; kaempferol; quercetin Anticancer: caffeic-acid; kaempferol; quercetin; vanillin Anticarcinogenic: caffeic-acid Antiestrogenic: quercetin Antifibrosarcomic: quercetin Antihepatotoxic: caffeic-acid; quercetin Antiinflammatory: caffeic-acid; kaempferol; quercetin Antileukemic: kaempferol; quercetin Antileukotriene: caffeic-acid; quercetin Antilipoperoxidant: quercetin Antimelanomic: quercetin Antimutagenic: caffeic-acid; kaempferol; quercetin; vanillin Antinitrosaminic: caffeic-acid; quercetin Antioxidant: caffeic-acid; delta-5-avenasterol; delta-7-avenasterol; gamma-tocopherol; kaempferol; quercetin; vanillin Antiperoxidant: caffeic-acid; quercetin Antiproliferant: quercetin Antiprostaglandin: caffeic-acid Antitumor: caffeic-acid; kaempferol; quercetin; vanillin Antiviral: caffeic-acid; kaempferol; quercetin; vanillin Apoptotic: kaempferol; quercetin COX-2-Inhibitor: kaempferol; quercetin Cyclooxygenase-Inhibitor: kaempferol; quercetin Cytoprotective: caffeic-acid Cytotoxic: caffeic-acid; quercetin Hepatoprotective: caffeic-acid; quercetin Immunostimulant: caffeic-acid

 Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor: caffeic-acid; kaempferol; quercetin Mast-Cell-Stabilizer: quercetin Ornithine-Decarboxylase-Inhibitor: caffeic-acid; quercetin p450-Inducer: quercetin PTK-Inhibitor: quercetin Prostaglandigenic: caffeic-acid Protein-Kinase-C-Inhibitor: quercetin Sunscreen: caffeic-acid Topoisomerase-II-Inhibitor: kaempferol; quercetin Tyrosine-Kinase-Inhibitor: quercetin Horseradish Tree for infection: Analgesic: caffeic-acid; quercetin; spirochin Antibacterial: caffeic-acid; kaempferol; pterygospermin; quercetin Antiedemic: caffeic-acid Antiinflammatory: caffeic-acid; kaempferol; quercetin Antiseptic: caffeic-acid; kaempferol; oxalic-acid; pterygospermin; spirochin Antiviral: caffeic-acid; kaempferol; quercetin; vanillin Bacteristat: quercetin Candidicide: quercetin COX-2-Inhibitor: kaempferol; quercetin Cyclooxygenase-Inhibitor: kaempferol; quercetin Fungicide: caffeic-acid; pterygospermin; quercetin; spirochin; vanillin Immunostimulant: caffeic-acid Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor: caffeic-acid; kaempferol; quercetin Other Uses (Horseradish Tree)

Described as one of the most amazing trees God has created. Almost every part of the Moringa is said to be of value for food. Thickened pungent root used as substitute for

horseradish. Mustard-flavored foliage eaten as greens, in salads, in vegetable curries, and for seasoning. Leaves pounded up and used for scrubbing utensils and for cleaning walls. Young, tender seedlings make an excellent cooked green vegetable (FAC). Flowers are said to make a satisfactory vegetable; interesting, particularly in subtropical places like Florida, where it is said to be the only tree species that flowers every day of the year. Flowers good for honey production. Young pods cooked as a vegetable, in soups and curries, or made into pickles. Immature seeds are eaten like peas while mature seeds, roasted or fried, are said to suggest peanuts (FAC). Seed is said to be eaten like a peanut in Malaya. Seeds yield 38 to 40% of a nondrying oil, known as Ben Oil, used in arts and for lubricating watches and other delicate machinery. The oil contains high levels of unsaturated fatty acids, up to 75.39% oleic, making it competitive with olive oil and avocado as a poor mans source of MUFAs. The dominant saturated acids were behenic (to 6.73%) and palmitic (to 6.04%). The oil also rich in beta-sitosterol (to 50.07%), stigmasterol (to 17.27%), and campesterol (to 15.13%), and the vari-ous-tocopherols totaled more than 220 mg/kg of oil, respectively (JAF47:4495). Haitians obtain the oil by crushing browned seeds and boiling in water. Oil is clear, sweet and odorless, said never to become rancid. It is edible, used in salads and cooking, and in the manufacture of perfumes and hair dressings. Leaves and young branches are relished by livestock. A reddish gum produced by the bark, called Ben Gum, is used as a seasoning (FAC). Wood yields a blue dye. Commonly planted in Africa as a living fence (Hausa) tree. Trees planted on graves are believed to keep away hyenas and its branches are used as charms against witchcraft. Ochse notes an interesting agroforestry application: the thin crown throws a slight shade on kitchen gardens, which is more useful than detrimental to the plants. In Taiwan, treelets are spaced 15 cm apart to make a living fence, the top of which is lopped off for the calcium- and iron-rich foliage. Bark can serve for tanning and also yields a coarse fiber. Trees are being studied as pulpwood sources in India. Analyses indicate that the tree is a suitable raw material for producing high alpha-cellulose pulps for use in cellophane and textiles (NUT). For more information on activities, dosages, and contraindications, see the CRC Handtopic of Medicinal Herbs, ed. 2, et al., 2002. Cultivation (Horseradish Tree)

In India, the plant is propagated by planting limb cuttings 1-2 m long, from June through August, preferably. The plant starts bearing pods 6-8 months after planting, but regular bearing commences after the second year. The tree bears for several years. Fruits are harvested as needed, or, perhaps in India, there may be two peak periods (March-April and September-October). A single tree may yield some 600-1000 pods a year. A single fruit may have 20 seeds, each weighing some 300 mg, suggesting a yield of 6 kg/tree and an oil yield of 2 kg/tree (NUT). Chemistry (Horseradish Tree)

With the recent flurry of interest in stanols, the health food industry might be interested in a closer look at Ben Oil, which has more stanols than olive oil. See table below. Ben Oil, as analyzed, is also well endowed with tocopherols, making it a double whammy for heart health, with a slight taste of horseradish. Its oleic-acid (MUFA) levels can be as high as 75.39%. The ben oil contained ca. 100 ppm alpha-tocopherol (cf 90 in olive oil); 35 ppm gamma-tocopherol (cf 10 in olive oil); 75 ppm delta-tocopherol (cf 2 in olive oil). These high levels of tocopherols, especially delta-tocopherol, the better antioxidant, offer some protection in processing and storage. Ben Oil Analyzed Sterol % of sterols Olive oil Delta-5-Avenasterol (8.84-12.79%) 16.77 Delta-7-Avenasterol (0.94-1.11%) 0.29 Brassicasterol (ND-0.06%) TR Campestanol (ND-0.35%) 0.29 Campesterol (14.03-15.13%) 3.20 Cholesterol (0.12-0.13%) 0.15

Clerosterol (0.84-22.52%) 0.54 Ergostadienol (ND-0.39%) ND 28-Isoavenasterol (1.01-1.40%) ND 24-Methylenecholesterol (0.85-0.98%) ND Beta-Sitosterol (49.19-50.07%) 64.3 Stigmastanol (0.80-1.05%) 0.40 Delta-7,14-Stigmastanol (0.44-0.52%) TR Stigmasterol (16.78-17.27%) 0.60 Source: JAF47:4495 Here are a few of the more notable chemicals found in horseradish tree. For a complete listing of the phytochemicals and their activities, see the CRC phytochemical compendium, and , 1993 (DAD) and the USDA database .

Alpha-Tocopherol Anticancer; Anticonvulsant Synergen; Antimutagenic; Antioxidant (5 x quercetin); Antiradicular (5 x quercetin); Antitumor; RDA = 3-12 mg/day. Gamma-Tocopherol Antioxidant 10-15 |ig/g. Leucine Antiencephalopathic. Lysine Antialkalotic; Antiherpetic 0.5-3 g/day; Essential; Hypoarginanemic 250 mg/kg; LD50 = 181 ivn mus. Moringinine Cardiotonic; Enterodepressant; Hypertensive; Myodepreessant; Sympathomimetic; Vasoconstrictor. Oleic-Acid 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor; Anemiagenic; Anticancer; Antiinflammatory IC50 = 21 [iM; Antileukotriene-D4 IC50 = 21 \iM; Choleretic 5 ml/man; Dermatitigenic; Hypocholesterolemic; Insectifuge; Irritant; Percutaneostimulant; LD50 = 230 ivn mus; LDlo = 50 ivn cat. Spirochine Analgesic; Antipyretic; Antiseptic; Cardiodepressant 350 mg/kg; Cardiotonic 35 mg/kg; CNS-Paralytic; Fungicide; Hypotensive; Myocardiotonic; Uterotonic.