Nutritional and phytochemical profiles and biological activities of Moringa oleifera Lam. edible parts from Guinea-Bissau (West Africa)

Abstract Moringa oleifera is an edible medicinal plant used to fight malnutrition in Africa. In this study, M. flowers, fruits and seeds from Guinea-Bissau were characterized for their nutritional composition hydroethanolic aqueous extracts prepared investigate the phenolic profiles bioactivities. Seeds presented higher levels of proteins (~31 g/100 g dw), fat (~26 g/100 g dw) flavan-3-ol derivatives, while carbohydrates, proteins, citric acid, glycosylated flavonoids abundant these last samples also being rich ?-tocopherol (~18 mg/100 g dw). Some identified polyphenols had never been described oleifera. general, contained more active against lipid peroxidation, NO production, tumour cells growth. Significant antimicrobial effects tested bacteria fungi strains displayed by both extracts. The potential health issues was highlighted.