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What’s in a name?

The name Moringa, or “murungai,” meaning “twisted pod,” was derived from the Tamil Malayalam language, a Dravidian dialect natively spoken by the Tamil people of South Asia. Tamil Malayalam is also the official language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the sovereign nations of Sri Lanka and Singapore, and the Union territory of Puducherry in India.

In Latin, “oleifera” comes from the words; oleum (“oil”) and ferre (“to bear”). The plant has numerous common names across regions where it is cultivated, including “drumstick tree” or “horseradish tree.” I’ve read that in Africa, moringa is called “Kpashima” or “Argentinga,” though I can’t seem to find a solid translation or reference to this claim. Other names in Africa include “nèbèday” in Senegal, “zogale” in Nigeria, and “ilale” in Tanzania and Zanzibar, with each culture having its own unique moringa tree uses and traditions.

In South America and the Caribbean, moringa is known as “Liberdad” or “Mawonga”. For those whose native language is English, the official term is “Moringa Oleifera.”

“Plants play a vital role in cultural, social, religious, environmental, and nutritional aspects. Among all other purposes, the use of plants as medicine for human health originated ~60,000 years ago in the mid-Paleolithic age.

“NIH Library of Medicine; Traditional Uses, Pharmacological Efficacy, and Phytochemistry of Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori. —A Review, published 11 May 2018

Classification (Taxonomy)

French botanist François Alexandre Pierre de Garsault, an 18th-century French Academy of Sciences member, noted moringa as Balanus myrepsica. Today his descriptions are invalid since, at the time, generic and specific words required to meet taxonomic standards for designating a species were not used.

French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, best known for the “Lamarckian evolution” theory, described the M. oleifera species in 1785 as combined morphology and DNA. His analysis showed the plant to be closely related to M. concanensis, with its common ancestor diverging from the M. peregrina lineage.

Moringa’s history

According to the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Library of Medicine, ancient India’s Vedic literature containing the oldest Sanskrit layer and Hindu scriptures is the first to document moringa and its healing potential around 5,000 years ago. The Vedas are said to have been passed on through verbal transmission from generation to generation.

In folk medicine, moringa leaf extract was rubbed over the skin to treat paralysis and rashes. In northern Oman, pod oil was used to treat convulsions or infantile paralysis. The Sultanate of Oman used the seeds for abdominal pain, and also for controlling diabetes and its related symptoms, such as hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia. Traditional Arab folk medicine used young leaves as an antioxidant to heal wounds. A mixture of roots and leaves diluted in water was used to treat hypertension, malaria, asthma, stomach disorders, and to induce labor. Bark juice was widely considered a disinfectant, with additional applications in treating fever, headache, constipation, and burns, plus labor, back, and muscle pain.

Moringa was discovered around 2000 BC in Northern India. Touted as “the miracle tree” by Ayurvedic medicine for its health benefits, specifically mental alertness and healthy skin, it was first reserved for royal family members and the aristocracy. Since moringa was also thought to increase strength and energy while relieving stress and pain, moringa extract was later administered to Mauryan fighters on the battlefield.

The Ancient Egyptians used moringa oil as a sunscreen. However, the ancient Greeks discovered numerous applications and introduced them to the Romans, who made moringa famous among the Empire. Fast-forward to 1817, moringa, namely the oil, gained world popularity after The Crown Colony of Jamaica introduced it as a tasty food product and versatile culinary ingredient.

Today, the moringa tree is highly prized by several countries, including the Philippines, Eastern India, China, South Africa, and Southeast Asia. This is especially due to its ability to thrive in sandy soil, subtropical regions, and higher altitudes. And because essentially every part can be cultivated, including leaves, flowers, roots, branches, bark, seeds, and the oil derived from them, its future prospect as a sustainable and regenerative product looks bright.