CONQUERING THE MYTH OF MORINGA OLEIFERA TREES OF INDONESIAN PEOPLE

Abstract

The mythical influence that the Moringa oleifera can expel the spirits has penetrated so deeply into the minds of the Indonesian people. This study aims to conquer the myths of Moringa oleifera by providing health benefits of this tree. A scoping review of peer-reviewed was conducted to explore the health benefit of Moringa oleifera as part of nutrition promotion interventions. Electronic databases were searched for studies published between 1 December 2020 and 14 February 2021. Out of 359 articles retrieved and 31 peer-reviewed sources met inclusion criteria. Findings from 12 papers were organised into 6 categories of the health benefit from root, leave, stem bark, gum, flower, and seed based on Moringa oleifera’s plant part. This review has identified health benefits that hold potential for tackling the myth of Moringa oleifera. Various parts of this plant have been proven to have health benefits such as anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, cholesterol lowering, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antibacterial and antifungal activities. Findings from this study suggest that health benefit of Moringa oleifera’s tree should be widely promoted to increase the health status and wellness of Indonesian people.