Croton membranaceus seedlings

M. oleifera consists of the fresh or dried leaves of Moringa oleifera. Small to medium sized perennial tropical tree, up to 12 m high at maturity, with drooping branches; stem brittle with a corky bark. A true multipurpose tree with a wide range of edible, medicinal and other uses. Young leaves and shoots – raw or cooked added to salads, cooked as a potherb and added to soups and curries.They have a mustard-like flavour. The leaves contain 7 – 10% protein(This almost certainly refers to the dried leaf. The leaves are very nutritious, being rich in vitamins, minerals and the sulphur-containing amino acids methionine and cystine, which are often in short supply.

The young leaves are taken internally to increase the milk flow in nursing mothers. The tree is a nutritious, diuretic, laxative herb that is expectorant, increases milk flow, controls bacterial infections and is rubefacient when applied topically. It contains a potent antibiotic