Moringa Leaf Nutrition Facts

Overview of Moringa Leaf Nutrition

Scientific Name: Moringa oleifera

Order: Brassicales

Family: Moringaceae

In brief moringa has: vitamin C (51.70 mg | 57% DV) riboflavin (0.66 mg | 51% DV) vitamin B6 (1.20 mg | 71% DV) vitamin A (378.00 mcg | 42% DV) lutein and zeaxanthin (26100.00 mcg) iron (4.00 mg | 22% DV) manganese (1.06 mg | 46% DV) Moringa (Moringa oleifera) is also called a drumstick tree or malunggay. It is native to India and is grown around the world. It is widely used as food and medicine. The pods are used in Asian cuisine. Moringa leaves are the most nutritious part of the tree. Moringa leaves are a significant source of vitamin C (86% daily value [DV]); an important nutrient for fighting bacteria and viruses and making collagen. Moringa leaves also contain high amounts of vitamin A. An amount of 100 g of fresh leaves contains 378 mg or 42% DV of vitamin A. Vitamin A is an antioxidant offering several benefits including maintenance of healthy vision and immune system. The leaves of moringa contain 26100 mcg of lutein and zeaxanthin. These antioxidants may protect the eyes from damage and degeneration. Lutein and zeaxanthin content were determined from Liu et al. [2007]. The leaves also contain good amounts of B-vitamins such as vitamin B6 (71% DV) and riboflavin (51% DV) which function as co-enzymes in carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism. Moringa leaves are rich in minerals, especially iron (22% DV) and manganese (46% DV). Iron is essential for red blood cell production. Manganese affects cellular respiration, bone growth, glucose metabolism, and brain activity. Fresh moringa leaves are used as a nutritious green vegetable or the dried, ground leaves are often sold as a dietary supplement.

Calories

Name	Amount	% Daily Value
Calories	64 kcal	3%

Carbohydrates

Name	Amount	% Daily Value
Total Carbs	8.28 g	3%
Dietary Fiber	2.00 g	7%
Sugars	- g
Starch	- g

Sterols

Name	Amount	% Daily Value
Cholesterol	0.00 mg	0%
Phytosterols	- mg

Fat and Fatty Acids

Name	Amount	% Daily Value
Total Fat	1.40 g	2%
Saturated Fat	- g	-
Monounsaturated Fat	- g
Polyunsaturated Fat, total	- g
18:2 n-6 (LA), Omega-6	- g
18:3 n-6 (GLA)	- g
18:3 n-3 (ALA), Omega-3	- g
18:4 n-3 (SDA)	- g
20:5 n-3 (EPA)	- g
22:5 n-3 (DPA)	- g
22:6 n-3 (DHA)	- g
Trans Fat	0.00 g

Protein and Amino Acids

Name	Amount	% Daily Value
Protein, total	9.40 g	19%
Tryptophan	0.14 g
Threonine	0.41 g
Isoleucine	0.45 g
Leucine	0.79 g
Lysine	0.54 g
Methionine	0.12 g
Cystine	0.14 g
Phenylalanine	0.49 g
Tyrosine	0.35 g
Valine	0.61 g
Arginine	0.53 g
Histidine	0.20 g
Alanine	0.71 g
Aspartic Acid	0.92 g
Glutamic Acid	1.04 g
Glycine	0.52 g
Proline	0.45 g
Serine	0.41 g

Vitamins

Name	Amount	% Daily Value
Vitamin Can antioxidant and for immune health and making collagen	51.70 mg	57%
Thiaminfor amino acid, glucose, and lipid metabolism	0.26 mg	22%
Riboflavinfor amino acid, lipid, and vitamin B6 metabolism	0.66 mg	51%
Niacinfor digestive and skin health and nerve function	2.22 mg	14%
Pantothenic Acidfor cholesterol, fatty acid, and hormone metabolism	0.13 mg	3%
Vitamin B6for brain development, immune health, and protein metabolism	1.20 mg	71%
Folate, totalfor amino acid metabolism and preventing neural tube defects	40.00 mcg	10%
Folic Acid	0.00 mcg
Food Folate (dietary folate equivalent)	40.00 mcg
Cholinefor brain health and nerve function	- mg	-
Betainefor metabolizing an amino acid called homocysteine	- mg
Vitamin B12for nerve function and red blood cell formation	0.00 mcg	0%
Vitamin A, totalan antioxidant and for eye, immune, and reproductive health	378.00 mcg	42%
Retinol Acitiviy Equivalent	378.00 mcg
Retinol	0.00 mcg
Beta-Carotene	- mcg
Alpha-Carotene	- mcg
Beta-Cryptoxanthin	- mcg
Lycopenean antioxidant	- mcg
Lutein and Zeaxanthinantioxidants	26100.00 mcg
Vitamin E, totalan antioxidant and for cardiovascular and immune health	- mg	-
Alpha-Tocopherol	- mg
Beta-Tocopherol	- mg
Gamma-Tocopherol	- mg
Delta-Tocopherol	- mg
Vitamin Dfor calcium absorption, immune health, and muscle/nerve function	0.00 mcg	0%
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)for bone health and normal blood clotting	- mcg	-
Biotinfor amino acid, glucose, and fatty acid metabolism	- mcg	-

Minerals

Name	Amount	% Daily Value
Calciumfor bone health and muscle/nerve function	185.00 mg	14%
Ironfor carrying oxygen to cells and muscles	4.00 mg	22%
Magnesiumfor bone and heart health and muscle/nerve function	42.00 mg	10%
Phosphorusfor bone health and helping the body store and use energy	112.00 mg	9%
Potassiumfor carbohydrate metabolism and muscle/nerve function	337.00 mg	7%
Sodiumfor muscle/nerve function	9.00 mg	0%
Zincan antioxidant and for immune health	0.60 mg	5%
Copperfor iron absorption and blood vessel, bone, and immune health	0.11 mg	12%
Manganesean antioxidant	1.06 mg	46%
Seleniuman antioxidant and for reproductive health and thyroid function	0.90 mcg	2%
Iodinefor thyroid function	- mcg	-
Chromiumfor metabolizing and storing carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins	- mcg	-
Molybdenumfor metabolizing sulfites and sulfur-containing amino acids	- mcg	-
Chloridefor muscle/nerve function	- mg	-
Fluoridefor reducing tooth decay	- mg

Flavonoids

Name	Amount
Flavonols
Isorhamnetin	0.40 mg
Kaempferol	6.00 mg
Myricetin	0.00 mg
Quercetin	16.60 mg

Others

Name	Amount
Water	78.66 g
Ash	2.26 g
Alcohol	0.00 g
Caffeine	0.00 mg
Theobromine	0.00 mg
Resveratrol	- mg
Phytoalbumin	- mg
Chlorogenic Acid	- mg

The "-" means insufficient data.

% Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet or refer to the Dietary Reference Intakes for a specific life stage.

References:

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, Current Release.

National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Fact Sheets. Accessed from https://ods.od.nih.gov/.