Called Mega Superfood, This Is Nutrition Content In Kelor Leaves

Kelor Leaves (Pexels)

JAKARTA - Kelor leaves are referred to as mega superfood. The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) revealed that the Moringa Oleifera Lam's Latin plant and dubbed the magic plant by the World Healthy Organization (WHO) has various benefits for the human body.

"The calcium kelor content is higher than other plants. Even when compared to cow's milk. Even though so far cow's milk is known as the main source of calcium for humans," said Researcher at the Center for Horticulture and Plantation BRIN Ridwan in a statement in Jakarta, Thursday.

Each 100 grams of cow's milk contains an average of 143 milligrams of calcium. Meanwhile, dried kelor leaves with the same weight contain 17 times the calcium content.

Ridwan once analyzed and compared the calcium content of kelor leaves from several regions in Indonesia. Based on this research, he found the fact that there are kelor leaves that have calcium up to 21 times compared to cow's calcium milk, which is 3,000 milligrams per 100 grams.

Not only that, the kelor plant also has a fairly high protein content of around 25-34 percent, equivalent to the protein content in nuts, but it is still not comparable to the soybean protein which reaches 36 percent.

"In recent years, the use of kelary plants has increased significantly, both as food, medicine, and cosmetics. This is likely due to the increasing knowledge of the nutritional content and potential of kelor pharmaceuticals," said Ridwan.

In addition to the high content of calcium and protein, he continued, kelor also contains various secondary metabolic compounds that function as anti-bacterial, antioxidant, anti-fungi, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-obesity, and anti-collesterol.

Secondary metabolic compounds have several other functions, including as an attractant (attractive pollinating insects), protection from environmental stress, protection against pests or disease attacks (phytoalexin), protection against ultraviolet rays, and as a growth regulator.

"The secondary metabolite compound is difficult to synthesize and is rarely found in the market, so it has high economic value. The most targeted bioactive compound in the Moring is flavonoid," said Ridwan.

He further said that kelor contains various types of compound flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, apigenin, and myricetin. Kelor leaf flavonoids are reported to be higher than other plants, such as spinach, broccoli, and other vegetables.

Even research scientists in Spain stated that the higher content of kelor leaf flavonoids reached 327.2 milligrams per 100 grams compared to 19 vegetables commonly consumed in salad packages ranging from 3.8 to 191 milligrams per 100 grams.

Flavonoids are one of polyphenolic compounds that have recently been extensively studied and used in the health sector. These contents have potential functions as antivirals or bacteria, anti-diabetes, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and for the treatment of degenerative diseases, but have mainly function as antioxidants.

As a phytochemical compound, flavonoids are not synthesized in the human or animal body. Phavonoid biosynthesis occurs in almost parts of the plant, especially in photosynthetic cells.

Kelor is one of the plants that has been known to contain flavonoid compounds with high antioxidant activity. However, the content of this plant's flavonoid relies heavily on environmental conditions such as temperature, intensity light, and water availability.

"Kelor yang tumbuh pada musim keramur kandungan flavonoidnya lebih tinggi dibandingkan pada musim hujan. Bahkan dilaporkan konsensi flavonoid dalam daun kelor juga meningkat saat diperlakukan dengan menahan air selama 30 hari," ungkap Ridwan.

Previously, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin emphasized that he wanted to run away as a traditional food and herbal plants like ginseng from South Korea. He wants the benefits of kelor plants in Indonesia to be accepted by the international community.