Nutritional and Antioxidant Properties of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Leaves in Functional Foods

<i>Moringa oleifera</i> is a tree cultivated originally in northern India, whose ancient use as a medicine has demonstrated its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Due to its richness in minerals and macronutrients, the antioxidant capacity and the mineral bioaccesibility were...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rocío Peñalver, Lorena Martínez-Zamora, José Manuel Lorenzo, Gaspar Ros, Gema Nieto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-04-01
Series:Foods
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/8/1107
Description
Summary:<i>Moringa oleifera</i> is a tree cultivated originally in northern India, whose ancient use as a medicine has demonstrated its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Due to its richness in minerals and macronutrients, the antioxidant capacity and the mineral bioaccesibility were assessed. In addition, the chemical composition, amino acid, fatty acid, and mineral content were also evaluated. The performed analysis reported a high content of proteins and low content of lipids in the chemical composition. Regarding the mineral content, Ca and Fe presented high bioaccessibility; K, S, Ca, and Fe being the most concentrated elements. The obtained values using FRAP, ABTS, and ORAC methods showed high antioxidant capacity, directly related to the increased content of phenolic compounds. In view of the results, <i>Moringa oleifera</i> can be incorporated into the diet as a functional ingredient or as a fortifier of any kind of food. The important source of minerals, phenolics, proteins, unsaturated fats, and folates make it an excellent extract with beneficial properties.
ISSN:2304-8158