Nutritional assessment of Moringa oleifera leaves

Abstract

Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae) is a very useful tree in tropical countries. In Folklore and Ayurvedic all parts of the tree used in different healing procedure for different diseases. The plant leaves are very good nutrient supplement for malnutrition and also used as an antibiotic. Various article describes habitat, pharmacognostic features, phytochemistry, nutritive values and pharmacological activities like anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, hypotensive, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, anti-asthmatic, anthelmintic, anti-fertility etc. Moringa oleifera is the mostrich source of vitamin, protein and enzyme etc. This study aims to determine nutritional properties of Moringa oleifera leaves. The possible health benefits of these utilized leaves were explored by determining total protein content by Folin Lowry method. Vitamin-c content by titration method, alpha amylase content by DNSA (Dinito salicyclic acid). Lipase content by titration method. Protease inhibitor content by trypsinolytic assay. Moringa oleifera leaves were found to be the presence of high crude protein (733.32 mg/ml) and vitamin-c (297mg/100mg), the leaves also contain appreciable amount of lipase (0.36 milliequivalent) and alpha amylase (0.34% activity) and protease inhibitor (37.62 %).