QUANTIFICATION OF PRIMARY METABOLITES OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM

Abstract

Since time immemorial, man has used various plant parts in the treatment and prevention of various ailments.
These plants provide biologically active metabolites and lead structures whose activities can be enhanced by
manipulation through combinations with chemicals and synthetic chemistry. These metabolites can be exploited
in the field of new drugs research and for the development of modified derivatives with enhanced activity and
reduced toxicity. In the present investigation, various plant parts (leaves, stems, roots and pods) of Moringa
oleifera was evaluated for their biochemical estimation of primary metabolites viz., total soluble sugar, starch,
phenol, protein and lipid. The plant parts varied in composition of their primary metabolites. Results showed
that the maximum content of soluble sugar (57.2±0.53 mg/gdw) and phenols (41.0±0.33 mg/gdw) were
found in stem part, starch (42.0±0.60 mg/gdw) and lipid (46.0±0.05 mg/gdw) in leaf part and proteins in
pods (41.0±0.30 mg/gdw) of M.oleifera. It further concludes that Moringa oleifera plant parts are rich source
of primary metabolites and can be used as raw material in industries.