Abstract
The Moringa tree is a medicinal plant that has been widely used in traditional medicine and food applications. All the parts of the tree are rich in nutrients that could be harnessed to address food and nutritional challenges in developing nations of the world. This chapter summarizes the role of Moringa oleifera in nutraceuticals and functional foods with emphasis on nutritional and traditional uses, antiasthmatic, antibacterial, anticancer, antidiabetic, antifungal, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective properties of the seed, leaf, and flower. While the leaf has been widely used in food applications, the seed and flower have only been moderately used and characterized, thus necessitating further research into these parts of the plant. Future studies are required to fully explore the nutraceutical, functional, and food applications of the M. oleifera plant to enhance its industrial potential.