Moringa oleifera: a multipurpose tree with water coagulant seed proteins

Abstract

In this review Moringa oleifera, a tree with great environmental economic importance in industry and medicine, will be approached. Distinct parts of the plant have bioactive properties and can be used to different purposes. The leaves are good sources of protein and are used in human and animal diets. Leaves have growth-promoting hormones, are rich in folate and showed hypocholesterolemic, antiviral, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities; leaves and pods have compounds with hypotensive activity. Leaf aqueous extract can be used to hyperthyroidism regulation. Roots showed antiurolithiatic, anti-inflammatory/antiarthritic and analgesic activities; pods have hypolipidaemic activity; seeds showed hypotensive, antimicrobial, antitumor and antioxidant activities and seed oil may be used for biodiesel production. M. oleifera seed flour have been applied to treat water for human consumption. M. oleifera seed extracts also showed larvicidal activity against A. aegypti larvae. Three different lectins, nonspecific hemagglutinating proteins, have already been highly purified from M. oleifera seeds; two of them with coagulant or larvicidal properties. Coagulant M. oleifera lectin (cMoL) showed affinity with humic acid; the seed lectin did bind and removed these organic compounds purifying water.