辣木的研究进展

Advances in Knowledge of Moringa oleifera

辣木(Moringa oleifera)为辣木科辣木属多年生热带落叶乔木,广泛种植于亚洲和非洲热带和亚热带地区。我国广东、台湾、云南等地引种栽培。辣木因生长快速且具有很高的经济价值,被称为"奇迹之树(miracle tree)"。辣木的根、叶和嫩果可食用,种子可榨油,含油量大于30%。此外,辣木种子含有净水活性很高的蛋白质,这种净水蛋白具有天然、无毒、无副作用、易于降解等特点。此外,辣木主要含有氨基甲酸酯和酚性成分,具有抗菌、降血压、降糖尿病等生理活性。本文主要从化学成分和药理研究出发,围绕辣木的安全性和成分检测的研究概况进行综述,为辣木的开发和利用提供依据和参考。

Moringa oleifera, belonging to the Moringaceae family, is a biennial deciduous tree that is distributed in tropical and sub-tropical regions of Africa and Asia. The plant has been introduced into China and planted in Guangdong, Yunnan and Taiwan provinces. Moringa oleifera is called as ＂Miracle Tree＂ due to its rapid growth. Both its leaves and tender fruits are edible. Moringa oleifera seeds contain more than 30% oil. Moringa oleifera seed proteins are traditionally utilized for water purification owing to advantages such as natural occurrence, no toxic or side effects and easy degradation. Furthermore, Moringa oleifera contains carbamate derivatives and phenolic compounds, which show a diversity of biological activities including antifungal, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic effects. This paper reviews the chemical constituents and biological activities of Moringa oleifera with focus on safety evaluation and chemical analysis of Moringa oleifera for the purpose of providing evidence for the development and utilization of Moringa oleifera.