Revisión bibliográfica Moringa oleífera Lam.

Abstract

[Resumo] Moringa oleífera considérase unha árbore multiusos pola súa versatilidade tanto na agricultura, medicina como na industria. É unha planta orixinaria da India e África, aínda que actualmente encontrase distribuído por moitas outras partes do mundo como América do Sur e do Norte, Filipinas, Camboya, Pakistan, etc. É unha arbore típica dos trópicos e subtrópicos. Case todas as partes da planta M. oleífera presentan algunha utilidade, en especial, as follas e as sementes. As follas presentan un alto valor nutricional que podería satisfacer as necesidades nutritivas nos países menos desenvolvidos, que xustamente son as áreas onde mellor crece esta planta. Dentro do ámbito da medicina, pódese utilizar para combater unha gran variedade de enfermidades: diabetes, cáncer, inflamación, etc. e destacando sobre todo pola súa capacidade antioxidante na eliminación de radicais libres. Estas follas poden cualificarse como unha moi boa fonte de fitoquímicos os cales se lle atribúen todas estas propiedades (antioxidantes, antidiabeticas, etc.). Por outra banda, as sementes presentan actividade coagulante no tratamento de augas tanto para contaminantes como metais en suspensións, incluso contra bacterias patóxenas que están presentes na auga. Ao igual que as follas, as sementes teñen importancia nutricional, pódense comer, tal cal, a modo de guísante como pode ser prensada para a produción de aceite, o cal se considera de boa calidade ao comparalo co aceite de oliva.

[Abstract] Moringa oleífera is considered a multipurpose tree because of its versatility in agriculture, medicine and industry. It is an original plant from India and Africa, although it is currently distributed throughout many parts of the world such as South and North America, the Philippines, Cambodia, Pakistan, etc. It is a typical tree of the tropics and subtropics. Almost all parts of the M. oleífera plant have some utility, especially leaves and seeds. The leaves present a high nutritional value that could meet the nutritional needs in the less developed countries, which are precisely the areas where this plant is best grown. Within the field of medicine, it can be used to combat a wide variety of diseases: diabetes, cancer, inflammation, etc. especially for its antioxidant capacity in the elimination of free radicals. These leaves can be classified as a very good source of phytochemicals, which are attributed all these properties (antioxidants, antidiabetic, etc.). On the other hand, the seeds exhibit coagulant activity in the treatment of water for contaminants as well as suspended metals, even against pesticide bacteria that are present in the water. Like the leaves, the seeds have a nutritional importance, they can be eaten, as in the form of peas as can be pressed for the production of oil, which is considered good quality when compared to olive oil. The fatty acids of these seeds also make it useful for producing biodiesel that would be a form of renewable and environmentally friendly fuel.