Open Access

REVIEW

The Primacy of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) in Boosting Nutrition Status and Immunity Defence Amidst the COVID-19 Catastrophe: A Perspective

by Hirdayesh Anuragi¹, Rajesh Kumar Singhal², Yashfa Tanveer³, Humaira Yasmin³, Ambati Srijan⁴, Alka Bharati¹, Lal Chand⁵, Sukumar Taria¹, Kunasekaran Rajarajan¹, Asha Ram¹, Arun Kumar Handa¹, Ayyanadar Arunachalam¹, Khalid Rehman Hakeem^6,7,8,*, Deniz Özbilici⁹, Ayman EL Sabagh^10,11,*

1 ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi, 284003, India
2 ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, 284003, India
3 Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan
4 Agricultural College, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Warangal, 506006, India
5 ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner, 334006, India
6 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 22233, Saudi Arabia
7 Princess Dr. NajlaBint Saud Al-Saud Center for Excellence Research in Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
8Department of Public Health, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1341, Bangladesh
9 Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Siirt University, Siirt, 56100, Turkey
10 Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops, Siirt University, Siirt, 56100, Turkey
11 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, 33156, Egypt

* Corresponding Authors: Khalid Rehman Hakeem. Email: ; Ayman EL Sabagh. Email:

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2022, 91(9), 1831-1858. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2022.020540

Received 29 November 2021; Accepted 15 March 2022; Issue published 13 May 2022

Abstract

A severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) led novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak spread through China has become the biggest global public health challenge today. The virus upon several mutations has led to the resurgence of more infectious and lethal variants infecting over 298 million people with more than 5.46 million deaths worldwide by the end of December, 2021. Though vaccines are available, various preventive measures particularly a high body immunity is still extremely important which determines the likelihood of disease severity and subsequent recovery in the current and future pandemics. This review acknowledges the potentiality of miraculous Moringa oleifera Lam. against recently evolved novel coronavirus and accompanying health complications. Moringa a well-proven super-food, densely packed with an abundant quantity of 92 minerals, several vitamins, 46 antioxidants, and numerous bioactive compounds, thus own a massive therapeutic potential for healing all levels of nutritional deficiencies and poor immunities and cure above 300 diseases. Moringa acts as anti-asthmatic, anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, hepatic, renal and cardio-protective, and anti-viral in nature. Thus it may reduce the severity of COVID-19 infections and associated serious medical emergencies. In addition, self-isolation at home or the workplace has put people at increased risk of physical and mental sicknesses, which could be simply addressed by integrating this wonderful plant into everyday diet. Furthermore, the immune-modulatory properties and viral inhibiting nature of moringa contribute to reduced risk of COVID-19 infection and quicker recovery from its symptoms. As per the existing pieces of literature, it is a great time to harness the esteemed moringa for safeguarding people from the terrible ongoing COVID-19 situation and other future pandemics.

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