Moringa oleifera: A Multifunctional and Multipurpose Tropical Tree Treasure for Sustainable Environmental Food Security in the Functional Agroecosystem

The pretty Indian tree Moringa oleifera is a main example of a multifunctional tree that yields highly nutritious food products and thrives swiftly in arid environments. M. oleifera leaves are used as animal feed in the tropics and as a nutrient – and micronutrient-rich powder in several nations to help pregnant mothers and children who are lacking in certain nutrients. It is a significant food product that has received a lot of attention as the “Natural Nutrition of the Tropics” and has a lot of potential as a means of addressing some of the most urgent issues facing the developing world, such as poverty, deforestation, starvation, and contaminated water. The numerous economic uses of this tree, together with its easy propagation, have raised growing international interest in it. It originated in India and is found in most tropical countries (Africa, Asia, and the Americas). Apart from its various uses, M. oleifera has an impressive range of medicinal value. Therefore, the current review summarizes the nutritional, nutraceutical, pharmacological and phytochemical components of this miracle tree, M. oleifera, as well as its properties for water purification attributes, crop growth performance, and other ecosystem functions.