Moringa and immunity

Article du 14 avril 2020

Dr. Véronique Chabernaud, Founder and Director of Créer la Vitalité, and partner of Kinomé
www.creerlavitalite.com

Moringa Oleifera is a tree that has both nutritional and medicinal properties. It is an amazing plant in which most parts have nutritional value (leaves, fruit, seeds, roots, bark).

Moringa leaves are an excellent source of proteins, calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitain C, methionine and cysteine (essential amino acids). 100g Moringa leaves provide as many proteins as one egg, as much calcium as one milk glass, as much iron as 200g beef, as much Vit A as a carrot and as much Vit C as one orange[1].

Moringa can be eaten as fresh leaves in the countries where it grows easily (tropical and sub-tropical areas), but it can be used as dried leaves in other places, as a tea or added to regular meals. Powder, even though it has lost some vitamins, is still a rich nutrient as it is a leaf concentrate.

Beyond its nutritional value, Moringa also posseses biological and medicinal properties. It has antibacterial[2] and anti-inflammatory[3] activity as well as beneficial effects on the immunological status[4] that might be due to a decrease in oxidative stress linked to Vit A, C, E, and to an increase in natural resistance mechanisms due to protein, zinc and selenium content of the leaves. It is also well known that an increased nutritional status has a direct impact on the immunological status.

In this period of severe epidemic, all means that can help boost our immunological system are more than welcome. It starts with a diet rich in fresh nutrients (fruits, vegetables), physical activity, basics to which some complements, Vitamin C, trace elements (Silver, Copper, Zinc) and plants (Echinacea, Ginseng, Eleuthérocoque and Moringa) can be added.

Moringa is therefore a very valuable nutrient that fully belongs to our battery of tools helping our immunological system, both through its nutritional value and through a direct immunological effect. It is also an interesting new and delicious addition to our diet, be it as fresh leaves from the garden or as powder!


[1] Produire et transformer les feuilles de moringa ; Moringanews ; Dr Armelle de Saint Sauveur et Dr Mélanie Broin ; Mai 2010

[2] Suarez M. et al. Structure-Function Characterization and Optimization of a Plant-Derived Antibacterial Peptide; AAntimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, Sept. 2005, p. 3847–3857

[3] K.V. Sashidhara, J.N. Rosaiah, E. Tyagi, R. Shukla, R. Raghubir, S.M. Rajendran. Rare dipeptide and urea derivatives from roots of Moringa oleifera as potential anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive agents, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2008)

[4] Tété-Bénissan et al; Journal of Animal &Plant Sciences, 2012. Vol.15, Issue 2: 2184-2199; Récupération nutritionnelle chez les sujets malnutris VIH positifs et VIH négatifs après utilisation de feuilles de Moringa oleifera Lam