An investigation of Moringa oleifera plants for its Potential to add Nutritional and Health Values to different Food Products.

Research Note Prepared by: Joseph Issa Institution : Malawi Industrial Research and Technology Development Centre Summary The goal of this research is to investigate the potential of Moringa oleifera plant as a nutritious and medicinal plant in order to develop food products for local and international markets. The objectives of the study are therefore to gather and document ethnobotanic and utilization information of the plant, to evaluate the nutritional and phytochemical characteristics of the plant and to develop different food products based on Moringa as the main ingredient for local and international markets. Moringa oleifera plants grow widely in the lakeshore regions of Malawi and are used by the local inhabitants in their traditional diets and as a medicinal plant. The plant is however underutilized due to its unavailability in other regions, lack of Moringa food recipes in most foods, lack of scientific evidence on its nutritional and medicinal use; and poor information about its benefits due to inadequate documentation. If the information is collected, documented and disseminated, most individuals will benefit by utilizing the plant and thereby improve their nutritional and health status. To implement this project, information regarding its medicinal and food use will be gathered through questionnaires. Ethnobotanical information will be gathered from the National Herbarium of Malawi. Scientific evidence regarding Moringa nutrition and its phytochemistry will be gathered by laboratory analysis. Different food recipes will thereafter be developed for local and international markets. The principal researcher has done an invitro study regarding the bioaccessibility of calcium in Moringa oleifera plants and the results proved to be positive. The principal researcher is a research officer working with Malawi Industrial research and Technology development Centre (MIRTDC) a research institution whose mandate is to conduct research and technology development. The research project is expected to cost US$ 56,800 which is an equivalent of Mk 14,200,000 Malawian currency. The duration of the research project is estimated to be 2 years. Background Moringa oleifera plants grow widely in the lakeshore areas of Malawi. The plants are widely used in the growing regions as part of traditional diets and as medicinal plants. Moringa leaf powder is nowadays found in Malawian pharmaceutical shops with claims to cure different diseases and boost human immunity. Most individuals do not use this plant because there has been little research to substantiate the claims. Other reasons for its underutilization especially in highlands and urban areas of Malawi are its unavailability, lack of recipes that include Moringa in other food and poor information about its benefits. The principal researcher has done in-vitro studies regarding the bioaccessibility of calcium in Moringa oleifera plants and the results proved to be positive. There is therefore need to do further nutritional and phytochemical studies to validate the claims being made about the plant. The principal researcher is a research officer responsible for chemistry and food at Malawi Industrial research and Technology development Centre (MIRTDC). MIRTDC has the national mandate of conducting research and technology development in response to the socioeconomic needs of the Malawi nation, especially for the development of the micro, small and medium enterprises sector and for the improvement of the standard of living of the people of Malawi.

Problem Statement Underutilization of Moringa plants in Malawi has been described as due to its unavailability in the highlands and urban areas, lack of Moringa food recipes, lack of scientific evidence regarding its potential and poor historical information about its beneficial use. With this background, there is need to do scientific research to evaluate the nutritional and phytochemical characteristics of the plant. Furthermore, there is need to develop different food recipes that include Moringa as one of the ingredients in order to accommodate different people to take the plant in their diets. It will also be of importance to come up with information regarding the medicinal and food use of the plant by collecting indigenous knowledge. If the information is collected, documented and disseminated, most individuals will benefit by utilizing the plant and thereby improve their nutritional and health status. Literature Summary Moringa oleifera is the best known of the thirteen species of the genus Moringacae. Moringa is mainly grown in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Moringa grows well in the dry sandy soils but it also tolerates poor soils, including coastal areas. The leaves, fruits, flowers and immature pods of this tree are edible and they form a part of traditional diets in many countries of the tropics and sub-tropics (Siddhuraju et al., 2003). Apart from being used for nutritional benefits, Moringa oleifera has a great potential as a medicinal plant (Ferreira et al., 2008). The flowers, leaves and roots are used for the treatment of ascites, rheumatism and venomous bites and as cardiac and circulatory stimulants in folk remedies (Anwar et al., 2007). As a traditional food plant in Africa, Moringa oleifera vegetable has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and support sustainable land care. In some parts of the world such as Senegal and Haiti, health workers have been treating malnutrition in small children, pregnant and nursing women with Moringa leaf powder (Price, 1985). An 8-g serving of dried leaf powder supplies a substantial portion of the daily requirements for a child aged between 1 and 3years with 14% of protein, 40% of the calcium, 23% of the iron and nearly all the vitamin A (Fuglie, 2005). Moringa oleifera has been reported in both scientific and popular literature as having numerous nutritional qualities. The leaves of Moringa oleifera are a good source of protein, vitamin A, B and C and minerals such as calcium and iron (Dahot, 1988). According to Trees for Life Organization, ounce for ounce, Moringa leaves contain more vitamin A than carrots, more calcium than in milk; more iron than spinach, more potassium than bananas, more vitamin C than oranges, and the protein quality of Moringa leaves rivals that of milk and eggs. Description of Activities In order to implement this research project, the following are the tools and methods: Information regarding ethnobotanical and utilization of Moringa in Malawi will be gathered through a survey. A questionnaire will be prepared that will be administered to the local inhabitants of the lakeshore regions where Moringa grow. Information regarding its medicinal and food use will be gathered through a questionnaire. Ethnobotanical information will be gathered from the National Herbarium of Malawi. In order to get the scientific evidence regarding Moringa nutrition and its phytochemistry, laboratory analysis will be performed. The analysis will include evaluation of vitamins, minerals and bioactive phytochemicals that may contribute to its nutritional and medicinal potentials. The results will be compared to bioactive nutrients that are used in western medicine in order to substantiate the claims. The final work on this study will be to develop different food products based on Moringa as a main ingredient. Different food recipes will be developed for local and international markets. The market potential and marketability of Moringa products will be assessed. The project is expected to be completed in two years.