MORINGA OLEIFERA

Plant Name: MORINGA OLEIFERA

English Name: Moringa

Local Name: Moringa, Drumstick tree

Tamil Murungakka

• Hindi Munuga
• Marathi Shevga
• Kannada Nuggaeekayee
• Telugu Mulakkaya
• Gujarati Saragvo
• Oriya Munika
• Bengali Sojne danta
• Kerala Muringa Tree
• Nepali Sajiwan or Swejan

Family: Moringaceae

Uses:
The leaves are highly nutritious, being a significant source of beta-carotene, Vitamin C, protein, iron and potassium. The leaves are cooked and used like spinach. In addition to being used fresh as a substitute for spinach, its leaves are commonly dried and crushed into a powder, and used in soups and sauces. Murungakai Tamil as its locally known in Tamil Nadu is used in Siddha medicine. Its leaves are full of medicinal properties. The tree is a good source for calcium and phosphorus. In Siddha medicine, the drumstick seeds are used as a sexual virility drug for treating erectile dysfunction in men and also in women for prolonging sexual activity.