Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology

Effect of agronomic practices on phytochemicals and nutritional composition of Moringa oleifera Lam

5^th International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmacology and Ethnopharmacology

March 23-25, 2017 Orlando, USA

K M Murwa, A R Ndhlala, H A Abdelgadir, J F Finnie and J Van Staden

Agricultural Research Council- Vegetable and Ornamental Plants, South Africa
University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Clin Exp Pharmacol

Abstract:

Moringa oleifera Lam. is the best known of the13 species of the genus Moringaceae. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of spacing and fertilizers on nutrient composition and phytochemicals in Moringa leaves. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with four replicates. N: P: K (16%) organic fertilizer was applied at five levels 0 (control), 200, 400, 600 and 800 kg/ha at spacings of 1x1 m and 1x1.5 m. Moringa dried leaves were analysed for calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, boron, sulphur, magnesium, zinc, protein and Vitamin C content. Total phenolics were measured by Folin-C while total flavonoids were quantified using the vanillin-HCl technique. This study showed that nutrient content, total phenolic and flavonoid contents varies with age, season and are also affected by cultivation practices. Total phenolics varied from 19.39 to 196.21 (mg/GAC/g) and the highest values were found at a treatment where 600 kg/ha fertilizer application at a spacing of 1x1.5 m at harvest 9. Total flavonoids ranged from 0.59 to 3.29 (mg CAT/g) with highest values found in treatment combinations where 600 kg/ha fertilizer rate with spacing of 1x1 m at harvest 8. Vitamin C content ranged from 33.2 to 183.6 mg/100g. This study showed that agronomic practices play a major role on growth and quality of Moringa oleifera leaves.

Biography :

Email: Murwak@arc.agric.za