Review Article

Medicinal uses of banana (Musa paradisiaca) D. Shruthi*

ABSTRACT

Plantain or edible banana is one of the most important commercial fruits of the tropics. It is a cheap and energy-rich delicacy relished by both rich and poor alike. Its biological name is Musa paradisiaca. It belongs to the family Musaceae. It is known since antiquity, banana occupies an important place among Indian fruits and finds diverse uses in food, medicine, religious rituals, customs, and festivals. It forms the staple food for man villagers and tribals of eastern and southern India. Banana is one the most popular and common fruits. All parts of banana plant have medical application. Banana has many beneficial effects. The fruit has mild laxative property, helps to maintain cardiovascular health, protection against strokes, protection from ulcers; it also helps to reduce water retention, also preferred for anemic patients as it is highly rich in iron. Banana possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, and antiulcerogenic properties. It is also rich in vitamins, as well as minerals and it also well-known edible fruit and foodstuff. The flower of this plant is used to treat ulcers, dysentery, and bronchitis and cooked flowers are good food for diabetics. The astringent ashes of the unripe banana peel and leaves are used in the treatment of dysentery and diarrhea and also for the treatment of malignant ulcers. The aim of this review is to provide comprehensive information about medicinal uses of banana (M. paradisiaca) in our day-to-day life. KEY WORDS: Antidiabetic activity, Anticancer activity, Antiulcerogenic, Medicinal applications

INTRODUCTION reducing the ulcer irritation. Due to enriched food value and versatile medicinal value, it is one of the Fruits are important component of healthy diet. Some most important fruits and vegetable crops in several fruits offer greater medical benefits, one such fruit is countries. The fruit is also used to treat burns and banana. Banana, plantain, or Musa paradisiaca is a wounds and also helps in aiding constipation, diarrhea large, herbaceous plant native to India and Southeast relief, treatment of arthritis, and treatment of anemia Asia. Banana is the common name for herbaceous and is also believed to reduce the worm problems in plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. the kids. The stem juice of M. paradisiaca possessed It is one of the oldest cultivated plants. All parts of the hemostatic property as evidenced by its significant banana plant have medicinal applications. Bananas are reduction in bleeding and clotting time. As it is rich excellent source of potassium, vitamins, etc. Bananas in iron, it can stimulate the production of hemoglobin contain three natural sugars such as sucrose, fructose, in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia. Bananas and glucose combined with fiber. Banana plantation may be one of the best fruits to eat when attempting to lose weight. They are full of nutrients for increased approximately occupies 106,947 ha (data from energy and vitality.[1-3] The aim of this review is to the Office of Agricultural Economics, Ministry of provide comprehensive information about medicinal Agriculture, Thailand, for the 2002 growing season). uses of banana (M. paradisiaca) in our day-to-day life. It exhibits biological activity such as antidiabetic, antiulcerogenic, antitumoral, antiatherogenic, MEDICAL PROPERTIES OF antidiarrheic, and antimutagenic. Bananas are one of the fruits which patients with ulcer safely consume. BANANA Banana neutralizes the acidity of gastric juices, thereby Bananas are an excellent source of potassium. Potassium helps in maintaining the proper function Access this article online of muscles and preventing from muscle spasms and also helps to maintain blood pressure of an individual Website: jprsolutions.info ISSN: 0975-7619 and reduces the risk of stroke. Each part of banana

Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha University, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

*Corresponding author: D. Shruthi, Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha University, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. E-mail: [email protected]

Received on: 12-08-2018; Revised on: 18-09-2018; Accepted on: 25-10-2018

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ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF BANANA In recent study, it has been found that banana nutrition may benefit people at risk of certain cancers. It has been found that it has a protective effect against colorectal cancer risk.[1] In similar case study, the dietary patterns were observed and analyzed. The study revealed that banana intake was observed to provide the strongest protection against cancer risk. The study also reveals that certain banana variety Figure 1: A ripe banana day keeps cancer and infection at day possesses antitumor promoting activities. The extract obtained from the plant possesses antimutagenic properties.[8] Figure 1shows that ripe banana with dark patches on yellow skin produces substances called tumor necrosis factor which has the ability to combat abnormal cells. The more darker patches higher will be its immunity enhancement quality. Hence, riper the banana the better the anticancer quality.[1]

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF BANANA In humans and other organisms, the cells are exposed to various oxidizing agents throughout the life. Overproduction of oxidants may cause oxidative stress which may lead to chronic diseases, thus fruits and vegetables containing high levels of antioxidants Figure 2: Flowers of banana controls hyperglycemia are preferred to prevent oxidative stress. Banana being a fruit with antioxidant level of 1.58% has a good [9] plant has several medicinal properties. The core of antioxidant activity in human diet. Methanol extract the stem is believed to be useful in stomach upset and obtained from banana flowers possesses antioxidant diabetes. The extract of core of the stem is considered properties and thereby stabilizes the free radicals to be useful in dissolving the stones in the kidney formed during various metabolic process of body and and urinary bladder and reducing the weight.[19] The hence also helps in maintaining the stability of DNA [1] flower of this plant is used to treat ulcers, dysentery, and proteins of human cells. Banana peel is rich in and bronchitis and cooked flowers are good food for dietary fiber, proteins, essential amino acids, potassium, diabetics. The sap is used to treat variety of ailments and certain antioxidative agents. However, there is including leprosy and also used to treat insect bites.[1] limited information about the nutritional composition [10] Banana peel is a good source of dietary fiber.[4] The and antioxidant activities of banana peel. Certain ethyl acetate extract of Musa sapientum seeded banana variety of banana is found to responsible for enhanced peel and pulp exhibited significant higher antibacterial antioxidant, hypolipidemic, and radioprotective action activity than the ethanolic extract.[5] Conventionally, in albino rats.[11] β-carotene in fruits and vegetables is the banana fruits are in the treatment of diarrhea, responsible for the defensive effect of antioxidants.[21] dysentery, intestinal lesions in ulcerative colitis, These are abundant in bananas shows in Figure 2. diabetes, etc.[6] Bananas help in reducing the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. It is also believed ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF to restore normal bowel activity. Bananas have a BANANA natural antacid effect in the body, thus preventing from heartburn.[1] Antifungal and antibiotic properties In laboratory study, ethanol-based extracts of banana are found in the peel and pulp of ripened bananas. It flower inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria contains norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, and Serotonin inhibits gastric secretion.[7] The ripe Escherichia coli and prevent infections. In a clinical bananas are most recommended fruit that to be taken study, the ethyl acetate extract of banana flower may by women during menstrual cycle. This is because it is inhibit the growth of the malarial parasite Plasmodium believed to reduce pain during the cycle and provides falciparum.[1] The extracts obtained from peel and energy.[22] pulp of ripened bananas were found to have ability to

Drug Invention Today | Vol 12 • Issue 1 • 2019 105 D. Shruthi modulate the growth of non-pathogenic and pathogenic chloroform extract of the banana flowers in alloxan- bacteria, and it possesses certain antibacterial induced diabetic rats in which a significant reduction agents.[8] In a antimicrobial study, it was found that in blood glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin and the methanolic extract from the pulp of M. sapientum an increase in total hemoglobin.[8] In recent study, the subsp. sylvestris showed good activity against all aqueous extract of banana M. sapientum (Musaceae) 13 Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The stalk when used as dietary supplement as well as in the alkaloids present in the extract may contribute to the treatment of diabetics the reduction of hyperglycemia antibacterial activity, also tannin content of the pulp was observed.[16] contributes to the antimicrobial activity.[6] It was found that two of the crude extracts of banana showed CONCLUSION greater antifungal activity.[12] Certain antibacterial sprays or drops are prepared from the extract of Banana is a nutritional value, relatively easy to certain bananas.[13] Fresh extract of root and rhizome digest when compared to other food. It also helps in diluted with warm water to which little common salt absorption of iron and thus helps in the formation of added and used for mouthwash or gargled for few blood, it is also believed to be perfect food for infants minutes twice daily for a week is recommended to after 6 months, it also helps in maintain blood pressure cure pyorrhea and periodontal problems.[17] A study and prevents from the risk of stroke. The astringent was done with unripe bananas, lemongrass, and ashes of the unripe banana peel and leaves are used in turmeric against S. aureus and S. paratyphi, the result the treatment of dysentery and diarrhea and also for showed that the unripe banana had <2 h killing time the treatment of malignant ulcers. for S. aureus ATCC 25921, turmeric <3 h for E. coli while lemongrass had more than 3 h killing time for REFERENCES S. paratyphi.[18] In recent studies, it has been found 1. Kumar KP, Bhowmi D, Duraivel S, Umadevi M. 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