Abstract

Different parts of this M. oleifera ( Drum Stick Tree ) contain a profile of important minerals, and are a good source of vitamins, #x3B2;-carotene, amino acids and various phenolics. The Moringa plant provides a rich and rare combination of zeatin, quercetin, #x3B2;-sitosterol, caffeoylquinic acid and kaempferol. In addition to its compelling water purifying powers and high nutritional value. Various parts of this plant such as the leaves, roots, seed, bark, fruit, flowers and immature pods act as cardiac and circulatory stimulants, possess antitumor, antipyretic, antiepileptic, antiinflammatory, antiulcer, antispasmodic, diuretic, antihypertensive, cholesterol lowering, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial and antifungal activities, and are being employed for the treatment of different ailments in the indigenous system of medicine, particularly in South Asia. Global industrialization and the increasing demand for environmental friendly products make moringa have great potential as a source of pharmaceuticals, dyes, biofuel, human food, animal and fish feed, and water purification products. This review focuses on the detailed phytochemical composition, therapeutic applicability, along with pharmacological assets of different parts of this multipurpose tree. Dietary consumption of its part is therein promoted as a strategy of personal health preservation and self-medication in various diseases. The enthusiasm for the health benefits of M. oleifera is in dire contrast with the scarcity of strong experimental and clinical evidence supporting them. Fortunately, the chasm is slowly being filled. Reported studies number and variable in design, seem rigorously concordant in their support of therapeutic potential. Phytochemical analyses have shown that its leaves are particularly rich in K, Ca, P, Fe, vitamins A and D, essential amino acids, as well as such known antioxidants such as #x3B2;- carotene, vitamin C, and flavonoids. Further research considering releva