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Volume 13, Issue 3 (12-2023)
cmja 2023, 13(3): 30-38 |
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Fallahi S, Razmpour F, Jafari L, Javdan G, Salehpour Z, Rafati S, et al . Investigation of Local Knowledge Regarding the Local Uses of Moringa Plant in the Southern Regions of Iran. cmja 2023; 13 (3) :30-38
URL: http://cmja.arakmu.ac.ir/article-1-943-en.html
URL: http://cmja.arakmu.ac.ir/article-1-943-en.html
Soghra Fallahi1 
, Farkhondeh Razmpour2 , Leila Jafari3 , Gholamali Javdan4 , Zeinab Salehpour5 , Shideh Rafati6 , Seyed Masoumeh Mousavinejad7 , Farideh Dastsouz8 , Marzieh Nikparvar *9
, Farkhondeh Razmpour2 , Leila Jafari3 , Gholamali Javdan4 , Zeinab Salehpour5 , Shideh Rafati6 , Seyed Masoumeh Mousavinejad7 , Farideh Dastsouz8 , Marzieh Nikparvar *9
1- PHD by Research, Assistant Professor, Cardiovascular Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
2- PhD in Nutrition, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
3- PhD in Agroecology, Assistant Professor, Horticulture Science department, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hormozgan University, Bandar Abbas, Iran
4- PhD in Nutrition, Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
5- PhD in Pharmacology, Assistant Professor, Medicinal Plants Research Center, Yasouj University of Medical Sciences, Yasouj, Iran
6- PhD in Biostatistics, Assistant Professor, Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
7- BSc of Public Health, Cardiovascular Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
8- MSc of nutrition, Cardiovascular Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
9- Fellowship of echocardiography, Associate Professor, Cardiovascular Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran ,nikparvarheart1@gmail.com
2- PhD in Nutrition, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
3- PhD in Agroecology, Assistant Professor, Horticulture Science department, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hormozgan University, Bandar Abbas, Iran
4- PhD in Nutrition, Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
5- PhD in Pharmacology, Assistant Professor, Medicinal Plants Research Center, Yasouj University of Medical Sciences, Yasouj, Iran
6- PhD in Biostatistics, Assistant Professor, Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
7- BSc of Public Health, Cardiovascular Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
8- MSc of nutrition, Cardiovascular Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
9- Fellowship of echocardiography, Associate Professor, Cardiovascular Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran ,
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INTRODUCTION
Moringa (Moringa spp.) is a native shrub with a high nutritional value found in the mountains and hills of southeastern regions in Iran, extending from Hormozgan, Bashagard, to the border of Pakistan (1, 2). This valuable plant has not been properly known and identified so far leading to vast destruction consequently. The consumption of medicinal plants is as old as the emergence of humans on the earth, and almost all the peoples and human tribes used the self-grown plants in their surrounding nature. Moringa oleifera is fast growing and reaches up to about 10-12 m tall, it is the only species that is cultivated densely and commercially in some areas (3). For centuries, most parts of the Moringa oleifera species, including its leaves, roots, and trunk bark are used to make local medicines and the treatment of various diseases, including digestive disorders, skin rashes, colds, skin inflammation, high blood pressure, convulsions and attacks, nervous disorders, recurrent fever, skin diseases, and rheumatism (4). This study was conducted to obtain related knowledge about the local uses of Moringa plant in southern Iran.
METHODS
The study followed a field fashion using checklists, observation along with participation, and interviews. Considering the low level of literacy of the natives living in the study areas, the elderly people, the lack of complete mastery of the Persian language, and sometimes the lack of answering and interviewing non-native people, therefore the interviewers should be from the residents of the study area. Therefore, medical students of Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences who were natives of the study areas were selected to collect information and interview. Data were collected through a checklist containing such information as the local name of the plant, the harvesting technique, the type of native and traditional consumption, the time of harvesting, the type of useable organ, and how it is used (Table 1). The data were collected through local interviewers in the field and contact with the study population and elderly people in fall and winter of 2019 in Sheng, Noor Abad, and Paramon villages located in Beshagard areas of Hormozgan province and Fanuj and Chabahar cities of Sistan and Baluchistan. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23 software following which continuous variables were reported as mean and standard deviation, and categorical variables were reported as figures and percentages. Forty checklists were responded by the local residents of both regions.
RESULTS
The age mean of the participants was 47.82 ± 14.91 years ranging from 23 to 80 years (Table 2). In both regions, Moringa was used mostly as food (81%), and oil as a massaging alternative (19%). A total of 90.5% used the plant as a seasoning and food additive, oil, tea, and 9.5% used it as ointment and poultice to heal wounds. 85% dried consumption while 15% of the locals used it freshly.
Table 1. Sample checklist for collecting basic information about Moringa plant in the study areas
Table 2. Demographic information of the study subjects1
1Quantitative variables are reported as mean ± standard deviation. Qualitative variables are reported as number (percentage).
DISCUSSION
Humans have historically used medicinal plants for their living, pain relief, and treatments. In the regions of Hormozgan and Sistan and Baluchistan, people have used the Moringa plant as food and medicinal resources since far past. Although the locals and villagers did not have proper knowledge about the benefits of this plant, they were familiar with this plant in the past. Since the locals of this region grow and live in the heart of nature, they are in a close relationship with nature and the use of medicinal plants. Therefore, people have experimentally become aware of the medicinal and therapeutic properties of these plants, and this way of consumption and their information in this field has remained from ancient times up to now. This field research showed that natives use Moringa leaf powder in the form of brewed, boiled, as an additive to bread flour, and the seeds of this plant are extracted and used together with its pods in the preparation of poultices. In addition, the natives used the seeds of this plant as nuts. Natives have benefited from this plant despite little information, more knowledge about the benefits of this plant is very necessary. The following beneficial effects of Moringa have been confirmed in numerous studies: Antimicrobial and antihelmintic activities, antiasthma, anticancer, antitumor, antidiabetic and wound healing, heart and blood circulation stimulating activities, antidiuretic, analgesic, antipyretic, protective effects for the liver, antispasmodic and anti-Wounds, improvement of depression, anxiety and fatigue and skin and hair health (5, 6).
CONCLUSIONS
The local uses of Moringa plant were mostly as a seasoning and food additive, oil and tea. In less cases, it was used as ointment and poultice to heal wounds.
Ethical Approval
The study received ethics approval from the Ethics Committee of Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences under the ethics code: IR.HUMS.REC.1400.402.
Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests
Funding
The present study was funded by the Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Moringa (Moringa spp.) is a native shrub with a high nutritional value found in the mountains and hills of southeastern regions in Iran, extending from Hormozgan, Bashagard, to the border of Pakistan (1, 2). This valuable plant has not been properly known and identified so far leading to vast destruction consequently. The consumption of medicinal plants is as old as the emergence of humans on the earth, and almost all the peoples and human tribes used the self-grown plants in their surrounding nature. Moringa oleifera is fast growing and reaches up to about 10-12 m tall, it is the only species that is cultivated densely and commercially in some areas (3). For centuries, most parts of the Moringa oleifera species, including its leaves, roots, and trunk bark are used to make local medicines and the treatment of various diseases, including digestive disorders, skin rashes, colds, skin inflammation, high blood pressure, convulsions and attacks, nervous disorders, recurrent fever, skin diseases, and rheumatism (4). This study was conducted to obtain related knowledge about the local uses of Moringa plant in southern Iran.
METHODS
The study followed a field fashion using checklists, observation along with participation, and interviews. Considering the low level of literacy of the natives living in the study areas, the elderly people, the lack of complete mastery of the Persian language, and sometimes the lack of answering and interviewing non-native people, therefore the interviewers should be from the residents of the study area. Therefore, medical students of Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences who were natives of the study areas were selected to collect information and interview. Data were collected through a checklist containing such information as the local name of the plant, the harvesting technique, the type of native and traditional consumption, the time of harvesting, the type of useable organ, and how it is used (Table 1). The data were collected through local interviewers in the field and contact with the study population and elderly people in fall and winter of 2019 in Sheng, Noor Abad, and Paramon villages located in Beshagard areas of Hormozgan province and Fanuj and Chabahar cities of Sistan and Baluchistan. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23 software following which continuous variables were reported as mean and standard deviation, and categorical variables were reported as figures and percentages. Forty checklists were responded by the local residents of both regions.
RESULTS
The age mean of the participants was 47.82 ± 14.91 years ranging from 23 to 80 years (Table 2). In both regions, Moringa was used mostly as food (81%), and oil as a massaging alternative (19%). A total of 90.5% used the plant as a seasoning and food additive, oil, tea, and 9.5% used it as ointment and poultice to heal wounds. 85% dried consumption while 15% of the locals used it freshly.
Table 1. Sample checklist for collecting basic information about Moringa plant in the study areas
| Row | Questions about the basic information about the Moringa plant |
| 1 | The native name of the Moringa plant in the region |
| 2 | Cultivation time and harvest time |
| 3 | Where does the plant grow in the study area? |
| 4 | The organ used by the plant by the natives in the study area |
| 5 | Cases and applications of Moringa in the study area |
| 6 | How to use Moringa plant by the natives of the region |
| 7 | Non-edible uses of the plant are studied by the natives of the area |
| 8 | Local and indigenous uses of this plant in the study areas |
| 9 | How people know about the benefits and type of consumption of this plant in the study areas |
| 10 | areas The duration of familiarity with this plant in the study areas |
| 11 | How to collect and store this plant in the study |
| 12 | The availability of this plant in the study areas |
Table 2. Demographic information of the study subjects1
| Values | |
| Job | |
| Unemployed | 12(30) |
| Student | 1(2.5) |
| Student (collegian) | 1(2.5) |
| Employee | 3(7.5) |
| Rancher and farmer | 7(17.5) |
| Self-employment | 16(40) |
| Education | |
| Illiterate | 21(52.5) |
| Sub-diploma | 2(5) |
| Diploma | 15(37.5) |
| University education | 2(5) |
| Marital Status | |
| Single | 7(17.5) |
| Married | 33(82.5) |
| Sex | |
| Male | 24 (60) |
| Female | 16 (40) |
| Age range | 47.82 ± 14.91 |
| Min | 23 |
| Max | 80 |
DISCUSSION
Humans have historically used medicinal plants for their living, pain relief, and treatments. In the regions of Hormozgan and Sistan and Baluchistan, people have used the Moringa plant as food and medicinal resources since far past. Although the locals and villagers did not have proper knowledge about the benefits of this plant, they were familiar with this plant in the past. Since the locals of this region grow and live in the heart of nature, they are in a close relationship with nature and the use of medicinal plants. Therefore, people have experimentally become aware of the medicinal and therapeutic properties of these plants, and this way of consumption and their information in this field has remained from ancient times up to now. This field research showed that natives use Moringa leaf powder in the form of brewed, boiled, as an additive to bread flour, and the seeds of this plant are extracted and used together with its pods in the preparation of poultices. In addition, the natives used the seeds of this plant as nuts. Natives have benefited from this plant despite little information, more knowledge about the benefits of this plant is very necessary. The following beneficial effects of Moringa have been confirmed in numerous studies: Antimicrobial and antihelmintic activities, antiasthma, anticancer, antitumor, antidiabetic and wound healing, heart and blood circulation stimulating activities, antidiuretic, analgesic, antipyretic, protective effects for the liver, antispasmodic and anti-Wounds, improvement of depression, anxiety and fatigue and skin and hair health (5, 6).
CONCLUSIONS
The local uses of Moringa plant were mostly as a seasoning and food additive, oil and tea. In less cases, it was used as ointment and poultice to heal wounds.
Ethical Approval
The study received ethics approval from the Ethics Committee of Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences under the ethics code: IR.HUMS.REC.1400.402.
Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests
Funding
The present study was funded by the Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Medicinal Plants
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