Come to Lau Ban-Ban in Binjai, North Sumatra, Kupang in East Timor, or Serpong Jakarta in Java and chances are you will find Daun Kelor or Merunggai in the backyard of some households. Scientifically known as Moringa olefeira, this miracle tree is extensively cultivated worldwide but is practically unknown to most Indonesians until its importance was recently highlighted to them by Goducate through theoretical and actual training.
Moringa is known for its edible leaves, flowers, fruits, roots, and seed oil, and has been traditionally used for herbal medicine to treat many ailments. These parts of the plant are rich in protein, minerals, beta-carotene, thiamin, riboflavin, and other vitamins, particularly vitamins A and C. The seeds contain 19- 47% oil and are rich in fatty acids (palmetic, stearic, behmic, and oleic acids) and can be used for human consumption, illumination, and cosmetics and soaps. The oil is also valued for its power of absorbing and retaining odors, and is used by watchmakers as lubricants. The roots are used as a condiment or garnish after they have been peeled, dried, and mixed with vinegar.
People with average health find a welcome boost of energy with moringa. Tests have shown that pregnant women who took moringa recovered faster from anemia and had babies with higher birth weights, while breast-feeding women had increased milk production with moringa. It can be used to cure cuts,scrapes, sores, and rashes, and can modulate the body’s defense system. Extracts from dry leaves, stem bark, and flowers can, respectively, heal ulcers, moderate high-blood pressure, and lower blood sugar, while the extract from dried powdered leaves has a very potent depressive effect on the central nervous system, resulting in significant muscle relaxation, decreased body temperature, and increased sleep time.
A small, fast-growing evergreen that reaches up to 12 m high, Moringa is characterized by its spreading, open crown of drooping, fragile branches, feathery foliage of tripinnate leaves, and thick, corky, whitish bark. It has been observed to tolerate temperature fluctuations from -1 to 48oC. It is drought tolerant and is known to thrive in places that have annual rainfall of as much as 1,800 mm. It grows well from sea level to 1,200 m elevation in most light- to medium-textured soils, but best growth occurs in sandy loams with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Propagation is also possible with cuttings, but studies show that trees propagated from seeds produce longer roots.
We hope that in the immediate term, more needy Indonesians would be inspired by Goducate to plant Moringa for fresh consumption and for processing into tea, micronutrient powder, probiotic capsule, juice, or energy drink, thereby improving their nutrition and health.
