Malunggay - Scientific name: Moringa oleifera Lam.

English: Horse raddish tree

Tagalog: Malunggay

Malungay is a tree found throughout the Philippines, including Mt.

Banahaw. It is a common vegetable found in the market. They are a rich source of
calcium and iron. The leaves are purgative, and diuretic.

- As high as 9 m; has a soft, white wood and corky, gummy bark. Root has the taste of
horseradish. Each compound leaf contains 3-9 very thin leaflets dispersed on a compound
(3 times pinnate) stalk. Flowers white and fragrant, producing long, pendulous, 9-ribbed
pods. 3-angled winged seeds.
- Introduced from Malaya or some other part of tropical Asia in prehistoric times. Grown
throughout the Philippines in settled areas as a backyard vegetable and as a border plant.
Drought resistant and grows in practically all kinds of well-drained soils. Conserves
water by shedding leaves during dry season.
- Propagation by seeds and stem cuttings.

Properties
- Galactagogue, rubefacient, antiscorbutic, diuretic, stimulant, purgative.

Distribution
Grown throughout the Philippines as a vegetable or border plant.

Parts utilized
Flowers, leaves, young pods
Constituents
Ben oil, 36% - palmitic, stearic, myristic, oleic, and behenic acids, phytosterin; two
alkaloids the mixture of which has the same action as epinephrine.
Commercial Use
Oil, known as ben oil, extracted from flowers can be used as illuminant, ointment base,
and absorbent in the enfleurage process of extracting volatile oils from flowers. The oil,
applied locally, has also been helpful for arthritic pains, rheumatic and gouty joints.
Nutritional
Flowers, leaves and pods eaten as a vegetable.
Source of calcium, iron, phosphorus and vitamins.

Medicinal Use
Young leaves increases the flow of milk. Pods for intestinal parasitism.
Constipation: Leaves and fruit
Decoction of boiled roots used to wash sores and ulcers.
Decoction of the bark used for excitement, restlessness.
Pounded roots used as poultice for inflammatory swelling.
Juice of roots is used for otalgia.
Decoction of roots is use as gargle for hoarseness and sore throat.
Boiled leaves used to help increase lactation.
Seeds for hypertension, gout, asthma, hiccups, and as a diuretic.
Rheumatic complaints: Decoction of seeds; or, powdered roasted seeds applied to
affected area.
Juice of the root with milk used for asthma, hiccups, gout, lumbago.
Poultice of leaves applied for glandular swelling.
Pounded fresh leaves mixed with coconut oil applied to wounds and cuts.
The flowers boiled with soy milk thought to have aphrodisiac quality.