Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Profile of Drumstick Tree “Moringa oleifera Lam”: An Overview

Background: The herbal plant “Moringa oleifera Lam” is widely cultivated throughout India. The plant belongs to the Moringaceae family. It is commonly called as Drumstick tree and Horse-radish tree. Sometimes, the plant Moringa oleifera is called a “Miracle tree or Tree of life.” Objective: The current manuscript summarizes the phytochemical constituents and pharmacological properties of M.oleifera. Methods: Several pieces of literature have been searched in books, journals, and databases, including ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Publons, and Scopus. Results: The fruits and leaves of M. oleifera are generally used as a vegetable in the Indian subcontinent region. The whole parts of a plant contain valuable and essential therapeutic features; it has the richest content of antiradical components and nutrients. Various secondary components include hexacosone, pentacosane, phytol, carotenes, tocopherols, isothiocyanates, myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, rutin, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, sinalbin, and gallic acid. It contains a higher percentage of vitamin A-E and vitamin K. Some mineral components include copper, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and manganese. It has approximately more than forty naturally occurring antiradical constituents. The plant has diversified medicinal applications such as antidiabetic, antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antifertility, antiallergic, antipyretic, wound healing, analgesic, central nervous system activity, and hepatoprotective activities. The plant Moringa oleifera Lam has been found effective in various infections and diseases. Conclusion: This article provides a detailed explanation of the phytochemical and pharmacological activity of the plant that is being discussed.