Download MORINGA OLEIFERA Lam

MORINGA OLEIFERA Lam.
MALUNGAI
Guilandina moringa Linn.
Moringa pterygosperma Gaertn.
Moringa nux-ben Perr.
Local names: Arunggai (Pang.); balungai (Bis.); dool (Pamp., Bis.);
kalamungai (P. Bis.); kalungai (Bik., Bis., Tag.); kamalongan (P. Bis.);
kamalungai (Pamp., Tag.); komkompilan (Ilk.); malongai (Tag.); malungai (Tag.);
malungit (Pamp., Bis.); marongoi (Sbl.); marungai (Ilk., Ibn.); horse-radish tree
(Eng.).
Malungai is planted throughout the Philippines in settled areas at low and
medium altitudes. It was introduced from tropical Asia or Malaya in the prehistoric
period, and is now pantropic in cultivation.
The plant is a small tree, 8 meters or less in height, with corky bark and
soft, white wood. The leaves are alternate, usually thrice pinnate, and 25 to 50
centimeters long. There are three to nine leaflets on the ultimate pinnules. These
leaflets are thin, ovate to elliptic and 1 to 2 centimeters long. The flowers are
white and 1.5 to 2 centimeters long, on spreading panicles. The pod is 15 to 30
centimeters long, pendulous, three-angled and nine ribbed. The seeds are threeangled, and winged on the angles.
The three is often used in the Philippines as fence material. The young
leaves, flowers, and pods, are widely used as a vegetable in the Philippines,
Malaya and India. Analyses of the leaves show that they are very rich in calcium
and iron and a good source of phosphorus. They are particularly valuable on
account of the calcium and iron content. Analyses of the young fruit show that
they are rather high in protein, a fair source of calcium and iron, and high in
phosphorus. Burkill reports that in addition to the leaves and young pods, in
Malaya the seeds are eaten like peanuts. The roots are used for seasoning, like
those of horse-radish. O’Shaughnessy says that in Jamaica, the wood is used for
dyeing blue color.
According to Nadkarni the bark contains a white crystalline alkaloid
(occurring in the spirituous extract), 2 resins (one soluble and the other insoluble
in ammonia), and inorganic acid, mucilage, and ash 8 percent. The root yields an
essential oil, which is very pungent and offensive in odor. Wehmer records that
the seed contains traces of an acrid and pungent alkaloid, Ben, or Behen oil is
said to contain the glycerides of margaric, oleic and behenic acid. Brown says
that Ben oil consists largely of the glycerides of oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids.
It also contains a solid acid of high melting point. Gloez reports that the husked
seeds yield a fixed oil, 30.20 percent. Wehmer adds that the gum contains
bassorin; dextrin; enzyme myrosin and emulsin. Dymock quotes Hooper who has
found that the astringency of the gum is due to the presence of moringo-tannic
acid. This substance differs from bassorin in some particulars, and contains
some arabin. Dalziel states that the bark exudes a reddish gum with the
properties of tragacanth, which serves for tanning.
The seeds are official in the French (1) Pharmacopoeia and the seed oil in
the French (1) and Danish (1) Pharmacopoeias.
Filipinos do not know all the medicinal virtues of this plant. Malungai is
popularly known by them to be of use, particularly the young leaves, as a
galactagogoue. Father de Sta. Maria tells us that a decoction of the roots is used
to cleanse sores and ulcers. Guerrero says that the bark is used as a rubefacient
remedy. It is said that the roots of this tree, if chewed and applied to the bite of a
snake, will prevent the poison from spreading. A decoction of the roots is
considered antiscorbutic and is also given to delirious patients.
Nadkarni states that the leaves as a poultice are useful in reducing
glandular swellings. The leaves are said to have purgative properties. Eating of
the leaves is also recommended in gonorrhea on account of their diuretic action.
The roots have a taste somewhat like that of horse-radish, and in India are
eaten by Europeans as a substitute for the latter. The fresh root is regarded as
an acrid, pungent remedy, which is stimulant and diuretic.
In India and Indo-China the roots are regarded as antiscorbutic and when
pounded are considered an effective poultice for inflammatory swellings. The root
is rubefacient being applied externally in the form of a plaster as a counterirritant.
The juice of the root, with milk is also useful as a decoction in hiccoughs, asthma,
gout, lumbago, rheumatism, enlarged spleen or liver, internal and deep-seated
inflammations, and calculous affections. A decoction or infusion of the root is an
effective gargle. A decoction of the root is used in Nicaragua for dropsy. Kirtikar
cites Rheede, who says that the root causes abortion.
Kamel reports that the bark is used as a rubefacient and vesicant. It is a
popular abortifacient in India according to Kirtikar, Kirtikar and Basu and Waddel,
and is regarded as antiscorbutic. A decoction of the root-bark is used as a
fomentation to relieve spasm, and is considered useful in calculous affections.
The wood, when fresh, has a taste and odor somewhat like that of horseradish.
The gum, mixed with sesamum oil, is recommend to be poured into the
ears for the relief of otalgia. It is also said to produce abortion. The gum is also
given for intestinal complaints in Java.
The flowers are used in India for catarrh, with or in lieu of young leaves, or
young pods.
The pods have anthelmintic properties and are administered in affection of
the lever and spleen, in articulator pains, etc.
The Ben oil from the seeds is said to be use foe salads and culinary
purposes, and is a good illuminant. According to the bulletin of the Imperial
Institute, the oil is particularly valuable for ointments since it can be kept for
almost any length of time without undergoing oxidation. This property together
with the absence of color, smell and taste, renders it peculiarly adapted for use in
the “enfleurage” process of extracting perfumes. Dey, Nadkarni and Sanyal and
Ghose say that the oil is used as an external application for rheumatism.
Nadkarni states that the essential oil from the root is used externally as a
rubefacient.