Moringa stenopetala
Moringa stenopepalas, commonly known as the West African Moringa, is a resilient, multi-purpose tree native to the Sahelian regions. Renowned for its exceptional nutritional profile, every part of this plant—from nutrient-dense leaves to protein-rich seeds—offers profound medicinal benefits, serving as a vital tool against malnutrition and disease.
- Scientific name: Moringa stenopetala
- Family: Moringaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Brassicales and the family Moringaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Moringa.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Brassicales | WCVP |
| Family | Moringaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Moringa | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Moringa stenopetala, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Arabic, it is referred to as بان ضيق التويجية (ar) or بان ضيق التويجه (arz), while in Swahili, it is known as Mawali (sw). In Japan, it is transliterated as モリンガステノペタラ (ja), and in Amharic, it is called ሽፈራው (am).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ar | بان ضيق التويجية | Wikidata |
| sw | Mawali | Wikidata |
| ja | モリンガステノペタラ | Wikidata |
| am | ሽፈራው | Wikidata |
| arz | بان ضيق التويجيه | Wikidata |
| zh | 非洲辣木 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 非洲辣木 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 非洲辣木 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily found within the specific regions of Northeast and East Tropical Africa. In the Northeast Tropical Africa zone, its presence is documented in Ethiopia. Moving toward the East Tropical Africa region, the species can also be located in Kenya. These two countries represent the key geographical areas where the plant naturally occurs. Consequently, its distribution is concentrated within these distinct African territories.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Moringa stenopepalta, is a versatile medicinal resource where almost every component offers unique therapeutic benefits. The nutrient-dense leaves are widely consumed for their high vitamin and mineral content, while concentrated leaf extracts are frequently utilized in pharmacological applications for their antioxidant properties. The seeds are also highly valued, often used for their oil and antimicrobial qualities. Furthermore, the roots provide essential medicinal compounds, and the root bark is specifically employed in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, showcasing the comprehensive utility of the entire plant.- Total parts
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 16
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| roots | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fresh leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Moringa stenopetala has 22 reported phytochemicals identified across 24 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, tannins, 2-undecenal, Cholesterol, Fe.
- Total chemicals
- 22
- Scientific sources
- 24
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-undecenal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cholesterol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fe | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| L-ascorbic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| MSP-3 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| MSP-4 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mn | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Oleic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Moringa stenopetala has 6 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihypertensive, Antihyperlipidemic, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Diuretic.
- Total activities
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antihypertensive | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihyperlipidemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Natriuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Moringa stenopetala has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include MRSA, diarrhea, hypertension.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| MRSA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |