Long ignored plant LOWLY ‘MALUNGGAY’ MAKES WAVES IN U.S.

By Manny Piñol

In my recent trip to the United States, I was surprised to discover that a Fil-American friend was planting thousands of seedlings of the lowly “Malunggay” or Moringa in his 80-acre farm in the desert of Coachella Valley, Southern California.

Using “Malunggay” varieties from Mexico and India, Rocky French, grandson of a World War II American soldier who later settled in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat Province, hopes to be the biggest supplier of Moringa leaves and fruits.

French said the “Malunggay” fruits which could be a meter long are in demand in the Asian food and grocery stores like Seafood City where these are a hot item for Filipinos, Cambodians, Vietnamese and Thais.

The leaves, on the other hand, are bought by an American health company which produces Moringa capsules, a favourite among health buffs.

“Malunggay,” or “Kamunggay” in the Visayas, is a natural part of the farming landscape in the Philippines.

In the backyard of a Filipino farming family, there would always be one or two standing “Malunggay” trees which serve as the source of green leaves for chicken soup, especially for nursing mothers.

The “Malunggay” soup is also believed to have medicinal effect on children with high fever and a favourite energising dish for farmers after a hard day’s work.

The elongated “Malunggay” fruits are the favourite of the Ilocanos for their specialty dish “Dininding.”

Visayans value their “Malunggay.” In fact, there is a joke that whenever there is a typhoon, the first thing that the Visayan would be concerned about is his “Kamunggay.”

“Bahala matumba ang balay, basta dili lang ang Kamunggay,” so goes the joke. (It is alright for the house to be topped by the wind, but not my Malunggay.)

Why has Moringa created a craze in the U.S. and now even China?

A book titled Moringa Oleifera: Magic, Myth or Miracle written by Dr. Howard Fisher in 2011 said that Moringa Oleifera contains all 18 Amino Acids – properly sequenced and in the optimal ratios.

Dr. Fisher’s book said Amino Acids directly govern how the body works and functions. These Amino Acids perform the following tasks in the body.

– Isoleucine builds proteins and enzymes, stimulates the brain, promotes muscle recovery after physical exercise, regulates blood sugar levels and is used to make the vital iron carrying hemoglobin.

– Leucine is used in the liver, but primarily in the muscle and fat. It is used in the bio-synthesis of sterols in the body and has the ability to stimulate muscle growth and inhibit muscular degradation.

– Lysine is important for proper growth, and it plays an essential role in the production of Carnitine, a nutrient responsible for converting fatty acids into energy and helping to lower cholesterol. Lysine aids in the absorption of calcium, plays an important role in the formation of collagen, (benefits bones, connective tissues including skin, tendon, and cartilage) and the formation of antibodies, hormones and connective tissues.

– Methionine is best known for its ability to supply sulfur and other compounds required for the metabolism and growth. Sulfur is a key element and vital to the utilization of a number of antioxidant nutrients. It lowers cholesterol and reduces fat in the liver while increasing lecithin production.

– Phenylalanine the body changes this into tyrosine, another amino acid that is needed to make proteins, and neurotransmitters, including L-dopa, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, and thyroid hormones. Norepinephrine can affect mood, and different forms of phenylalanine have been proposed to treat depression.

– Threonine helps the liver reduce fat, maintains protein balance and supports cardiovascular, liver, central nervous system and immune system function by being involved in the production of antibodies. It is involved in the production of collagen, elastin, connective and muscle tissue, especially the heart, where it is found in higher concentration and may decrease wound healing and recovery time from injury. Links indicate the Threonine may be beneficial in the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

– Tryptophan assists normal growth in infants and for nitrogen balance in adults. The body uses tryptophan to help make the B vitamin, niacin, and the neurotransmitter, serotonin. Serotonin regulates mood, appetite and sleep and decreased levels of this neurotransmitter is linked to depression. Tryptophan supports your immune system, alleviates insomnia, reduces anxiety, depression and relieves symptoms of migraine headaches.

– Valine is a branched-chain amino acid found in high concentration in muscle tissue. Valine is helpful in treating addictions. A deficiency may affect the myelin covering of nerves. Aside from being a component of many proteins, very little is known about the independent function of Valine.

– Alanine is important when it comes to providing energy for your muscle tissue, brain, and central nervous system. This common amino acid is manufactured from other metabolites in the liver and plays a key role in the breakdown of glucose for energy and stabilizes glucose levels during exercise. Alanine is used in the production of neurotransmitters, antibodies and stimulates lymphocyte production.

– Arginine plays an important role in cell division, the healing of wounds, removing ammonia from the body, immune function, and the release of hormones. It has been shown in studies to cause the release of the growth hormones considered necessary for muscle growth and tissue repair, decreasing healing time. Arginine is a precursor for the production of nitric oxide and is related to treating erectile dysfunction and providing cardiovascular benefits (lowering blood pressure) as it relaxes smooth muscle, acts as a vasodilator and increases blood flow.

– Aspartic Acid acts as a neurotransmitter and is involved in hormone production and release and nervous system function.

– Cysteine is a non-essential amino acid. In certain cases such as premature infants, the elderly, or those with metabolic disease or a malabsorption syndrome it may be considered to be essential and must be supplied from dietary sources. Cysteine acts as an antioxidant and protects against radiation and pollution. Like all antioxidants, it will slow the ageing process, deactivate free radicals, and neutralize toxins. Cysteine is involved in the formation of one of the most potent detoxifiers in the body, glutathione in the lungs, liver, kidneys, and bone marrow.

– Glutamic Acid helps to prevent ammonia intoxication, and is an active neurotransmitter substance and is important for memory and learning. By being converted into the anti-neurotransmitter GABA, Glutamic Acid may help to prevent seizures.

– Glycine is used for muscular tissue, DNA and RNA creation and converting glucose into energy. It prevents muscular degeneration by increasing levels of Creatine. It is also important for the digestive system and nervous system function acting as an inhibitory neurotransmitter.

– Histidine is an ESSENTIAL AMINO ACID in infants and may be essential for some adults. Histidine is used to form histamine a neurological compound released during allergic responses. It is used for growth and for the repair of tissue, as well as the preservation of the myelin sheaths that protect nerve cells. Histidine is required for the fabrication of both red and white blood cells, and helps to protect the body from damage caused by radiation and in heavy metals detoxification.

– Serine plays a major role as a catalyst for many enzyme functions and synthesizes the fatty-acid based sheaths around nerve fibers. Serine is involved in the formation of immunoglobulins and antibodies strengthening the body’s immune system. Plus, it synthesizes fatty acid sheaths around nerve fibers.

– Proline aids in the production of collagen and therefore affects joints, cartilage, tendons, the heart and skin. It is a precursor to Glutathione and very important for strengthening the heart.

– Tyrosine is a building block for several neurotransmitters, including epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine and supports the function of the thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary glands. Tyrosine is a factor in regulation endocrine hormonal function and structurally is a component in most of the proteins in the body.

The long ignored “Malunggay” which is part of the Filipino diet has been proven to be a gold mine of amino acids which the body needs.

Impressed by what I saw, I have decided to start a “Malunggay” nursery using varieties from India and Mexico which possess wider leaves and are prolific producers of the elongated fruits.

In my nursery in Kidapawan City now, I have about 5,000 “Malunggay” seedlings which 18 months from now would hopefully start the Moringa plantation which I intend to develop in the Southern Philippines.

(Photos: The healthy Moringa or “Malunggay” seedlings from India in my nursery in Kidapawan City and “Moringa” seeds being germinated in Rocky French’s nursery in Thermal City, California.)