KARACHI:Vice Chancellor of Dow University of Health Sciences, Prof Mohammad Saeed Quraishy said that while fighting diseases and malnutrition we cannot ignore the medicinal and nutritional benefits of Moringa oliefera (Suhanjna).
Addressing a seminar as the Chief Guest organized by the Dow College of Biotechnology on “Medicinal and Nutritional Benefits of Moringa olifera” as part of Social Integration Outreach Program Research Grant from HEC Pakistan, at Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan Auditorium DUHS, Ojha Campus, he said even today, the presence of Suhanjna trees in some old houses in Karachi is the evidence that people in the past were aware of the benefits of this tree. He quoted these words talking in the. The seminar was attended by the Pro Vice Chancellor of Dow University, Prof Zarnaz Wahid along with a large number of faculty members and students.
Dr Anwar-ul-Hasan Gilani, Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology, Agha Khan University, Dr Aisha Sana, Associate Professor from Jinnah University of Women, Dr Shoukat Ali, Principal of Dow College of Biotechnology, and Dr Sadaf Khan, Assistant Professor of Dow University also spoke.
Prof Saeed Quraishy said that the leaves of this tree can be used as herbal tea while its beans can be cooked as vegetable. He announced that Dow University is starting an awareness campaign regarding the medicinal and nutritional benefits of Moringa.
Prof Anwar Gillani said that, there is a market of approximately $5 billion in the world for Moringa olifera and its products. Moringa can be used to treat cancer, diabetes and ulcer. The oil extracted from its leaves can be used in pickle.
Dr Aisha Sana said that people in 82 countries of the world are aware of the benefits of this miracle tree. Moringa can cause resistance to ulcer as well as cancerous cells i.e. H-Pylori.
She further said that the importance of this tree can be well estimated through the evidence of sufficient quantities i.e. 3 times more potassium than banana, 4 times more calcium than milk, 4 times more iron than spinach, 7 times more vitamin C than oranges, 4 times more vitamin A than carrots. She told that Moringa also contains zinc, magnesium and amino acids in high amounts.