Don't throw away malunggay stalks, they're nutritious

MANILA, Philippines - More often than not, when we refer to malunggay (Moringa oleifera), we only mean the leaves or immature greed pods which we use for cooking and other nutritional and medicinal purposes. Leaf stalks are often thrown away. But did you know that the stalk is just as nutritious as the leaves?

According to a report released by a unit of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), the stalks, like the malunggay leaves, contain substantial amounts of valuable macro- and micro-nutrients.

In terms of macronutrients, potassium (K) is highest in malunggay stalks. Ten kilograms (kg) of dried malunggay stalks contain 293 gams (g) of potassium. Other macronutrients present are calcium (191g/10kg), nitrogen (185g/10kg), chloride (65g/10kg), sulphur (45 g/10kg), magnesium (23g/10kg), phosporus (19 g/10kg), and sodium (7g/10kg).

In terms of micronutrients, the stalk is rich in iron, boron, zinc, manganese, and copper. Ten kilos of dried malunggay stalks contain 436 milligrams (mg) of iron, 170 mg of boron, 112 mg of zinc, 100 mg of manganese, and 37 mg of copper.

These are discussed in a study titled “Mineral Macronutrients, Micronutrients and Other Elements in Leaves of Malunggay Plant Sampled in Some Locations in the Philippines” conducted by Severino S. Magat, Ma. Cecilia M. Raquepo, and Carmencita D. Pabustan of the Crop Agronomy, Nutrition and Farming Systems of the PCA (CANFARMS-PCA).

The group analyzed the nutrient contents of the leaves (leaf blades) and leaf stalks of the malunggay for the purpose of optimizing its nutritional and medicinal uses and also to understand the other elements present in malunggay which may be beneficial or toxic at high concentrations.

According to Dr. Magat, malunggay has been well recognized as a practical and highly nutritional plant and food source and yet vital information on its macro- and micro-nutrient contents is scarcely found and identified.

For more information or for a copy of the Technology-Advisory Notes, please email Dr. Severino S. Magat, program leader of the Crop Agronomy, Nutrition and Farming Systems of the Philippine Coconut Authority (CANFARMS-PCA) at [email protected]