Bioactive components and anti-diabetic properties of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Lam

<i>Moringa oleifera</i> Lam. is a perennial tropical deciduous tree with high economic and pharmaceutical value. As an edible plant, <i>M. oleifera</i> Lam. is rich in nutrients, such as proteins, amino acids, mineral elements and vitamins. Besides, it also contains an important number of bioactive phytochemicals, such as polysaccharides, flavonoids, alkaloids, glucosinolates and isothiocyanates. <i>M. oleifera</i> for long has been used as a natural anti-diabetic herb in India and other Asian countries. Thus, the anti-diabetic properties of Moringa plant have evolved highly attention to the researchers. In the last twenty years, a huge number of new chemical structures and their pharmacological activities have been reported in particularly the anti-diabetic properties. The current review highlighted the bioactive phytochemicals from <i>M. Oleifera</i>. Moreover, evidence regarding the therapeutic potential of <i>M. oleifera</i> for diabetes including experimental and clinical data was presented and the underlying mechanisms were revealed in order to provide insights for the development of novel drugs.