Moringa seed is valuable for far more than nutrition. This open-access study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences characterised Moringa oleifera seeds and oil for both food and non-food applications.
It profiled the seed oil’s fatty acids, sterols and tocopherols, and the seed’s proteins, while noting the tree’s resilience and economic potential.
Key points
- The oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (high MUFA/SFA ratio), plus sterols and tocopherols.
- The seed proteins are rich in sulfated amino acids.
- The drought-tolerant tree can supply nutrition and a biodiesel feedstock that does not compete with food crops.
Why it matters for MORIFA: Captures the full value chain of our seed — premium food oil, quality protein, energy feedstock — backed by a respected open-access journal.
Caveat: a characterisation study; composition varies with cultivar and processing.
Summary of: (2016). “Moringa oleifera Seeds and Oil: Characterization and Uses.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 17(12), 2141. DOI: 10.3390/ijms17122141. Open-access; summarised by MORIFA; full paper via the link above.