Nutritional profiling of Moringa oleifera leaves and seeds from three selected districts in Tanzania

Paper Details

Research Paper 13/09/2024
Views (58) Download (8)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Nutritional profiling of Moringa oleifera leaves and seeds from three selected districts in Tanzania

U. L. Msalilwa, R. Masabo, C. Balama, G. E. Soka
Int. J. Biosci.25( 3), 261-271, September 2024.
Certificate: IJB 2024 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

The leaves and seeds of Moringa oleifera are known to have immense nutritional value. This study was carried out to evaluate the nutrient composition and properties of M. oleifera leaves and seeds in Tanzania. Seed and leaf samples were collected from the Simanjiro, Kilolo, and Mpwapwa districts in Kilimanjaro, Iringa, and Dodoma regions respectively. A cross-sectional research design was used in this study to collect seeds and leaves samples. Analysis of Variance indicated a significant difference (p<0.05) in the concentration of macronutrients in the leaves and seeds of M. oleifera. The amount of water, crude fibers, and ash concentrations was higher in the leaves than in the seeds. However, the concentration of proteins and lipids was higher in seeds compared to the leaves. Significant differences were observed in the water content, crude fiber in leaves and seeds in the three regions (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in protein and lipid contents in seeds from the three studied regions (p>0.05). A macronutrient composition indicated a high concentration of Zn, Fe, Ca, P, and Bk in leaves compared to the seeds from all three regions. It was noted that K and P had higher concentrations in the seeds than in the leaves. Moreover, the leaves and seeds collected from Iringa region contained higher concentrations of macronutrients compared to those from Dodoma and Kilimanjaro regions. These findings indicate that M. oleifera leaves and seeds are rich in vital amounts of nutritional components, hence, presents a promising balance of food ingredients for human and animal diets. Cognizant of this, M. oleifera leaves and seeds can be used to combat malnutrition, especially among infants and nursing mothers. For further scale-ups, the alteration of macronutrients could play a key role in the yield and quality of M. oleifera in agricultural systems.

VIEWS 36

Abdull Razis AF, Mohd Noor N, Konsue N. 2014. Induction of epoxide hydrolase, glucuronosyl transferase, and sulfotransferase by phenethyl isothiocyanate in male Wistar albino rats. BioMed Research International 2014.

Akinyeye RO, Oluwadunsin A, Omoyeni A. 2010. Proximate, mineral, anti-nutrients, phyto-chemical screening and amino acid compositions of the leaves of Pterocarpus mildbraedi Harms. Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural & Food Chemistry 9(8).

Akinyeye RO, Oluwadunsin A, Omoyeni A. 2011. Proximate, mineral, anti-nutrients, phyto-chemical screening and amino acid compositions of the leaves of Pterocarpus mildbraedi Harms. Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural & Food Chemistry 10(1).

Anwar F, Muhammad IB. 2005. Interprovenance variation in the composition of Moringa oleifera seed oil from Pakistan. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society (J. AOCS) 82(1).

AOAC. 1990. Official methods of analysis. 14th edition. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington, DC.

Aslam M, Anwar F, Nadeem R, Rashid U, Kazi TG, Nadeem M. 2005. Mineral composition of Moringa oleifera leaves and pods from different regions of Punjab, Pakistan. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences 4(4), 417-421.

Bharali R, Tabassum J, Azad MRH. 2003. Chemomodulatory effect of Moringa oleifera, Lam, on hepatic carcinogen metabolising enzymes, antioxidant parameters and skin papillomagenesis in mice. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 4(2), 131-140.

Cáceres A, Saravia A, Rizzo S, Zabala L, De Leon E, Nave F. 1992. Pharmacologic properties of Moringa oleifera. 2: Screening for antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic activity. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 36(3), 233-237.

Dao MCE, Kabore KH. 2015. Morphological characteristic variation of eleven provenances of Moringa oleifera seedlings grown in the Northern Sudanese area of Burkina Faso. African Journal of Plant Science 9(10), 401-411.

Dhakad AK, Ikram M, Sharma S, Khan S, Pandey VV, Singh A. 2019. Biological, nutritional, and therapeutic significance of Moringa oleifera Lam. Phytotherapy Research 33(11), 2870-2903.

Gidamis AB, Panga JT, Sarwatt SV, Chove BE, Shayo NB. 2003. Nutrient and antinutrient contents in raw and cooked young leaves and immature pods of Moringa oleifera Lam. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 42(6), 399-411.

Goff JP. 2018. Invited review: Mineral absorption mechanisms, mineral interactions that affect acid–base and antioxidant status, and diet considerations to improve mineral status. Journal of Dairy Science 101(4), 2763-2813.

Gupta M, Kanti Mazumder U, Chakrabarti S. 1999. CNS activities of methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera root in mice. Fitoterapia 70(3), 244-250.

Kasolo JN, Bimenya GS, Ojok L, Ochieng J, Ogwal-Okeng JW. 2010. Phytochemicals and uses of Moringa oleifera leaves in Ugandan rural communities.

Kim MH, Choi MK. 2013. Seven dietary minerals (Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn) and their relationship with blood pressure and blood lipids in healthy adults with self-selected diet. Biological Trace Element Research 153, 69-75.

Kumar S. 2017. Medicinal importance of Moringa oleifera: drumstick plant. Indian Journal of Scientific Research, 129-133.

Mahmood KT, Mugal T, Haq IU. 2010. Moringa oleifera: A natural gift—A review. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 2(11), 775.

Maroyi A. 2006. The utilization of Moringa oleifera in Zimbabwe: A sustainable livelihood approach. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa 8(2), 161-169.

Martínez-González CL, Martínez L, Martínez-Ortiz EJ, González-Trujano ME, Déciga-Campos M, Ventura-Martínez R, Díaz-Reval I. 2017. Moringa oleifera, a species with potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 87, 482-488.

Melo V, Vargas N, Quirino T, Calvo CMC. 2013. Moringa oleifera L.: An underutilized tree with macronutrients for human health. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture, 785-789.

Mun’im A, Puteri MU, Sari SP. 2016. Anti-anemia effect of standardized extract of Moringa oleifera Lamk. Leaves on aniline-induced rats. Pharmacognosy Journal 8(3).

Nouman W, Basra S, Ahmed M, Siddiqui MT, Yasmeen A, Gull T, Alcayde MAC. 2014. Potential of Moringa oleifera L. as livestock fodder crop: a review. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry 38(1), 1-14.

Odeyinka SM, Torimiro DO, Oyedele JO, Asaolu VO. 2007. Farmer’s awareness and knowledge of Moringa oleifera in Southwestern Nigeria: A perceptional analysis. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences.

Oluyemi EA, Feuyit GJAI, Oyekunle JAO, Ogunfowokan AO. 2008. Seasonal variations in heavy metal concentrations in soil and some selected crops at a landfill in Nigeria. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 2(5), 089-096.

Parrotta JA. 1993. Moringa oleifera Lam. Reseda, horseradish tree. Moringaceae. Horseradish tree family. International Institute of Tropical Forestry, 61.

Popoola JO, Obembe OO. 2013. Local knowledge, use pattern and geographical distribution of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) in Nigeria. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 150(2), 682-691.

Sánchez-Machado DI, Núñez-Gastélum JA, Reyes-Moreno C, Ramírez-Wong B, López-Cervantes J. 2010. Nutritional quality of edible parts of Moringa oleifera. Food Analytical Methods 3, 175-180.

Senthilkumar A, Karuvantevida N, Rastrelli L, Kurup SS, Cheruth AJ. 2018. Traditional uses, pharmacological efficacy, and phytochemistry of Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori: A review. Frontiers in Pharmacology 9, 465.

Siddhuraju P, Becker K. 2003. Antioxidant properties of various solvent extracts of total phenolic constituents from three different agroclimatic origins of drumstick tree (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 51(8), 2144-2155.

Yaméogo CW, Bengaly MD, Savadogo A, Nikiema PA, Traore SA. 2010. Determination of chemical composition and nutritional values of Moringa oleifera leaves. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 10(3), 264-268.