Harnessing the nutritional benefits of the mighty moringa tree

Abstract

A relatively new food crop in South Africa, the moringa tree is known for its health benefits: a moringa leaf is almost a third protein and contains many vitamins and minerals. Medicinal properties of the plant, native to the Indian sub-continent, include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties. Better still, the tree is fast-growing and droughttolerant, and so is well adapted to the South African climate. As the popularity of the plant grows, so too does the need to understand how growing conditions affect the bioactive compounds that make it so attractive as a means for alleviating poverty and food insecurity.