Nirmal Singh & Karmjeet Kaur

Moringa oleifera is a multi-purpose herbal plant used as human food-chain and an alternative for medicinal purposes worldwide. Its different parts are sources of proteins, vitamins, and minerals having discernible pharmacological and biotechnological potential. Various parts of this plant such as the leaves, roots, seed, bark, fruit, flowers and immature pods act as anti-asthmatic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antiulcer, antihypertensive, cholesterol-lowering, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antibacterial, hepatoprotective and antifungal activities. In addition, its plant parts are highly enriched with vitamins, minerals, amino acids considered crucial for growth and development. Moreover, M. oleifera seeds are widely used in water and effluent treatment, for their coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation properties, their ability to improve water quality.