Guilandina moringa Linn.
Moringa pterygosperma Gaertn.
Moringa nux-ben Perr.
Local
names: Arunggai (Pang.); balungai (Bis.); dool (Pamp., Bis.); kalamungai
(P. Bis.); kalungai (Bik., Bis.,
Tag.); kamalongan (P. Bis.); kamalungai (Pamp., Tag.); komkompilan (Ilk.); malongai (Tag.); malungai
(Tag.); malungit (Pamp., Bis.); marongoi (Sbl.); marungai (Ilk., Ibn.); horse-radish
tree (Eng.).
Malungai
is planted throughout the Philippines in settled areas at low and medium
altitudes. It was introduced from tropical Asia or Malaya in the prehistoric
period, and is now pantropic in cultivation.
The plant
is a small tree, 8 meters or less in height, with corky bark and soft, white
wood. The leaves are alternate, usually thrice pinnate, and 25 to 50
centimeters long. There are three to nine leaflets on the ultimate pinnules.
These leaflets are thin, ovate to elliptic and 1 to 2 centimeters long. The
flowers are white and 1.5 to 2 centimeters long, on spreading panicles. The pod
is 15 to 30 centimeters long, pendulous, three-angled and nine ribbed. The
seeds are three-angled, and winged on the angles.
The three
is often used in the Philippines as fence material. The young leaves, flowers,
and pods, are widely used as a vegetable in the Philippines, Malaya and India.
Analyses of the leaves show that they are very rich in calcium and iron and a
good source of phosphorus. They are particularly valuable on account of the
calcium and iron content. Analyses of the young fruit show that they are rather
high in protein, a fair source of calcium and iron, and high in phosphorus.
Burkill reports that in addition to the leaves and young pods, in Malaya the
seeds are eaten like peanuts. The roots are used for seasoning, like those of
horse-radish. O’Shaughnessy says that in Jamaica, the wood is used for dyeing
blue color.
According
to Nadkarni the bark contains a white crystalline alkaloid (occurring in the
spirituous extract), 2 resins (one soluble and the other insoluble in ammonia),
and inorganic acid, mucilage, and ash 8 percent. The root yields an essential
oil, which is very pungent and offensive in odor. Wehmer records that the seed
contains traces of an acrid and pungent alkaloid, Ben, or Behen oil is said to
contain the glycerides of margaric, oleic and behenic acid. Brown says that Ben
oil consists largely of the glycerides of oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids.
It also contains a solid acid of high melting point. Gloez reports that the
husked seeds yield a fixed oil, 30.20 percent. Wehmer adds that the gum
contains bassorin; dextrin; enzyme myrosin and emulsin. Dymock quotes Hooper
who has found that the astringency of the gum is due to the presence of
moringo-tannic acid. This substance differs from bassorin in some particulars,
and contains some arabin. Dalziel states that the bark exudes a reddish gum
with the properties of tragacanth, which serves for tanning.
The seeds
are official in the French (1) Pharmacopoeia and the seed oil in the French (1)
and Danish (1) Pharmacopoeias.
Filipinos
do not know all the medicinal virtues of this plant. Malungai is popularly
known by them to be of use, particularly the young leaves, as a galactagogoue.
Father de Sta. Maria tells us that a decoction of the roots is used to cleanse
sores and ulcers. Guerrero says that the bark is used as a rubefacient remedy.
It is said that the roots of this tree, if chewed and applied to the bite of a
snake, will prevent the poison from spreading. A decoction of the roots is
considered antiscorbutic and is also given to delirious patients.
Nadkarni
states that the leaves as a poultice are useful in reducing glandular
swellings. The leaves are said to have purgative properties. Eating of the
leaves is also recommended in gonorrhea on account of their diuretic action.
The roots
have a taste somewhat like that of horse-radish, and in India are eaten by
Europeans as a substitute for the latter. The fresh root is regarded as an
acrid, pungent remedy, which is stimulant and diuretic.
In India
and Indo-China the roots are regarded as antiscorbutic and when pounded are
considered an effective poultice for inflammatory swellings. The root is
rubefacient being applied externally in the form of a plaster as a
counterirritant. The juice of the root, with milk is also useful as a decoction
in hiccoughs, asthma, gout, lumbago, rheumatism, enlarged spleen or liver,
internal and deep-seated inflammations, and calculous affections. A decoction
or infusion of the root is an effective gargle. A decoction of the root is used
in Nicaragua for dropsy. Kirtikar cites Rheede, who says that the root causes
abortion.
Kamel
reports that the bark is used as a rubefacient and vesicant. It is a popular
abortifacient in India according to Kirtikar, Kirtikar and Basu and Waddel, and
is regarded as antiscorbutic. A decoction of the root-bark is used as a
fomentation to relieve spasm, and is considered useful in calculous affections.
The wood,
when fresh, has a taste and odor somewhat like that of horse-radish.
The gum,
mixed with sesamum oil, is recommend to be poured into the ears for the relief
of otalgia. It is also said to produce abortion. The gum is also given for
intestinal complaints in Java.
The
flowers are used in India for catarrh, with or in lieu of young leaves, or
young pods.
The pods
have anthelmintic properties and are administered in affection of the lever and
spleen, in articulator pains, etc.
The Ben oil from the seeds is said to be use foe salads and culinary purposes, and is a good illuminant. According to the bulletin of the Imperial Institute, the oil is particularly valuable for ointments since it can be kept for almost any length of time without undergoing oxidation. This property together with the absence of color, smell and taste, renders it peculiarly adapted for use in the “enfleurage” process of extracting perfumes. Dey, Nadkarni and Sanyal and Ghose say that the oil is used as an external application for rheumatism. Nadkarni states that the essential oil from the root is used externally as a rubefacient.