History
Moringa is a nutritious plant which has many potential uses. It is a
native to the southern foothills of Himalayas in the northwest India.
It is traditional food plant in Africa as it is said to be nutritious,
boost food security, help rural development and support land care.
Plant Description
The tree is mainly grows in semi-arid and tropical areas and requires
sandy soil and can tolerate poor soil.
Its tree is slender with drooping branches which grows to a height of 10
m in height.
It is a fast growing tree widely cultivated in many parts of world.
Cultivation
Moringa is cultivated in Africa, central and south America, Sri Lanka,
India, Mexico, Malaysia and Philippines.
It is cultivated for its pods which are called 'drumsticks' that are
consumed in India and taste like beans and asparagus.
Moringa is propagated by planting limb cuttings from June to august.
Parts Used
Pods, roots, bark and flowers of this tree are used.
Chemical constituents
Drumsticks are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, iron, protein and
potassium. Its seeds yield essential edible oil.
Culinary uses
- In south India drumsticks are used in sambhar and also deep fried as
vegetable. In other parts such as west Bengal and Bangladesh drumsticks
are relished in various dishes.
- The drumsticks are also added to pickles, dal, curries, sambhars and
kormas. In other various preparations it is added to give flavor.
- Drumstick leaves are cooked with spinach and sometimes dried leaves
are added to soups and sauces.
Medicinal uses
- Drumstick seeds, roots, flowers are said to have medicinal properties
that is why they have been used in various genres of medicines.
- Its consumption improves the malnutrition in infants and mothers.
The leaves of drumstick tree are highly nutritious and consumed raw or
with spinach.
- The flowers, roots and seeds of drumstick are used in the treatment
of tumors. They are also used in to cure rheumatism and poisonous bites
and other severe conditions.
Other Names
- ARABIC : Alim, Halim (Sudan), Habbah ghaliah, Rawag (Sudan), Ruwag
(Sudan), Shagara al ruwag (Sudan), Shagara al ruway (Sudan).
- ASSAMESE: Sojina.
- BAMBARA : Anamambo (Mali), Anamorongo (Mali), Feliimorongo (Mali),
Felikambo (Mali), Felikamoranga (Mali), Landihazo (Mali), Moringa,
Moringy (Mali), Névrédé.
- BENGALI: Munga ara Saajanaa (Sajna), Sojna, Sojne danta, Sujana.
- BURMESE: Daintha, Dandalonbin, Dan da lun, Dan da lun bin.
- CHINESE: La mu. CZECH: Moringa olejná.
- DANISH: Behennødtræ.
- DUTCH: Benboom, Peperwortel boom.
- ENGLISH: Ben tree, Behn tree, Behen tree, Benzolive tree (USA),
Drumstick, Drumstick tree, Horseradish tree, West Indian ben.
- FRENCH: Ben ailé, Ben ailée, Ben oléifère,
Moringa ailée, Pois quénique.
- GERMAN: Behenbaum, Behennussbaum, Meerrettichbaum,
Pferderettichbaum.
- GUJARATI: Midho saragavo, Saragavo, Saragvo, Seeng ni phali,
Suragavo.
- HAUSA : Bagaruwar maka (Nigeria), Bagaruwar masar (Nigeria), Barambo,
Danga, Koraukin zaila (Nigeria), Mágurua maser (Togo) , Rimin
nacara (Nigeria), Rimin turawa (Nigeria), Samarin, Shipka hali
(Nigeria), Shuka halinka (Nigeria),Zogalagandi (Cameroun), Zôgala
gandi (Niger), Zogalla-gandi (Nigeria), Zogale.
- HINDI: Munagaa, Munga ara, Munuga, Muranka, Muruggai, Sahijan Sahjan,
Sanjna, Sahunajaa, Shajmah Shajna, Segra, Senjana, Shekta (as M.
pterygosperma), Sekta ni sing, Soanjna, Suhujna.
- HUNGARIAN: Lóretekfa.
- ITALIAN: Been, Bemen.
- JAPANESE : Marungai, Marunga oreiferaWasabi no ki Wasabi no ki.
- KANNADA: Nuggaeekayee, Nuggekayee
- KHMER: Daem mrom, Daem mrum.
- LAOTIAN: B'loum. MALAGASY: Anamambo, Anamorongo, Feliimorongo,
Felikambo, Felikamoranga, Landihazo, Moringa, Moringy.
- MALAY: Kachang kelur, Kelor (Bali, Java), Kalor (Indonesia),
Lemunggai, Meringgai, Remunggai , Sajor kelor, Semunggai, Smunggai,
Semunggai, Tjelor (Bali).
- MALAYALAM: Moringa, Morunna, Muringa, Muringai, Muringakka (fruit),
Murinna, Sigru.
- MARATHI: Shevga, Shevga chi seeng, Shivga, Sujna.
- NEPALESE: Sajiwan, Sitachini, Swejan. ORIYA: Munigha, Sajana, Saijna,
Sajina, Shajna, Soandal, Sujuna.
- PORTUGUESE: Acácia branca, Moringa, Muringueiro.
- PUNJABI: Saajinaa, Sanjina, Soanjana.
- RUSSIAN: Moringa oleifera.
- . SANSKRIT: Danshamula, Shobhanjana, Sigru Shobhanjan, Sobhan jana.
- SINHALESE : Moo rin guu (moh-RIN-guh) , Murunga (bean / pod), Murunga
gasa (tree), Murunga kolaya, Murunga kolle (leaves).
- SPANISH : Árbol del ben, Arbol do los aspáragos, Arbol
de las perlas (Mexico), Arbol do los aspáragos, Babano del arbo,
Ben, Jacinto (Panama), Jasmin francés, Jazmin francés
(Puerto Rico), Maranga, Maranga calalu (Honduras), Marango (Costa Rica,
Nicaragua), Palo de aceite ( Dominican Republic), Palo de abejas
(Dominican Republic), Paraíso, Paraíso blanco (Guatemala),
Paraíso de Espana (Mexico), Perla de la India (Mexico), Perlas
del oriente (Mexico),Perlas (Guatemala), Resada (Puerto Rico).
- SWAHILI : Mboga chungu (Tanzania), Mjungu moto (Tanzania), Mlonge
(Kenya), Mlongo (Kenya), Mronge (Kenya), Mrongo (Kenya), Mlongo (Kenya),
Mzunze (Kenya), Mzungu (Kenya) Shingo (Kenya).
- TAGALOG: Kalungai, Kamalungua, Malongai, Malungai, Malunggay talbos,
Mulangai, Mulangay, Mulanggay.
- TAMIL: Morunga, Murungai, Murunkai , Murungai maram (tree), Murunkak
kai.
- TELUGU: Mulakkaya, Mulana, Munaga, Sajana, Tella munaga.
- THAI : Ka naeng doeng, ? Ma khon kom, Ma rum (bean / pod), Phak i
huem, Phak i hum (Phak eehuem), Phak nuea kai, Phak ma rum (leaves),Se
cho ya.
- URDU: Sahajna.
- VIETNAMESE: Chùm ngây.
- VISAYAN: Alungai, Dool, Malungit, Kamunggay.
- YORUBA : Adagba malero (Nigeria), Ewé igablé (Benin),
Ewé igbalé (Nigeria), Ewé ilé (Benin,
Nigeria), Ewe igbale (Nigeria), Ewé oyibo (Benin), Idagbo monoyé
(Nigeria), Oyibo.
