Moringa oleifera: Processing, phytochemical composition, and industrial applications
Karima Gharsallah, Leila Rezig, Muhammad Shahid Riaz Rajoka, Hafiza Mahreen Mehwish, M. Abbas Ali, Sook Chin Chew
Abstract
The application of natural products has continued to receive considerable attention due to their various benefits. Moringa oleifera has shown various applications in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics and other industries. Derivatives of Moringa oleifera, including leaf extract, seed oil, and seed extract are reviewed for their extraction and processing, phytochemical composition, and industrial applications. High phytochemical levels, such as phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, sterols, tocopherols, carotenoids, and chlorophylls, are detected in Moringa oleifera. Thus, the high antioxidant activity of Moringa oleifera contributes to different pharmaceutical benefits for different parts, including anti-obesity, anti-hypertensive, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing properties. The high nutritional values and anti-microbial activity of different parts of Moringa oleifera make it suitable to use in different applications in functional food product development, skin care ingredients, biodiesel industry, water treatment processing, and pharmaceutical industries.