Moringa oleifera: A Nutritional, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Review with Comparative Analysis of Global Literature

Abstract

Moringa oleifera Lam., commonly referred to as the drumstick tree or the "miracle tree," is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant species of the family Moringaceae that has attracted sustained scientific interest for its nutritional density and broad pharmacological profile. This paper synthesises peer-reviewed literature published between 2017 and 2021 covering the botanical characteristics, proximate and mineral composition, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological activities (antimicrobial, anticancer, and nutritional-intervention effects) of M. oleifera, alongside its emerging application as a natural coagulant for water purification. A comparative analysis contrasts the nutrient density of Moringa leaves against conventional foods and vegetables, and evaluates methodological trends across the reviewed studies. Findings consistently indicate that Moringa leaves surpass many staple foods in protein, calcium, iron, and vitamin C content, while extracts of the leaves, seeds, and bark demonstrate measurable antimicrobial and anticancer bioactivity in laboratory settings. Seed-derived coagulant proteins also show strong, dose-dependent turbidity-removal efficiency in water treatment. The review concludes that M. oleifera holds substantial promise for food security, nutraceutical development, and low-cost water treatment in resource-limited settings, though it identifies a continuing gap between laboratory-scale evidence and large, controlled human clinical trials.