BANANA STEM: AN UNDER-UTILISED PART OF THE PLANT

Anuja Dixit

Abstract


Banana is one of the highly consumed and grown fruit crop. It is the second largest fruit produced in the world and India is the country which has the largest production of banana in the world. It is one of the oldest cultivated plants. The banana fruit, peel, and banana stem has been reported to be rich in total carbohydrates, fibre and minerals specially potassium. Banana stem is considered as the waste part of the plant, once they are harvested. It is used for preparing various handicrafts, ropes, fabrics, paper etc but the stem of the banana plant can be utilised in many interesting ways to treat various disorders such as diarrhoea, dysentery, intestinal colitis, inflammation, pain and snake bite. Banana stem has been reported as a potential source of polyphenols or antioxidants, such as gentisic acid, catechin, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and cinnamic acid. Banana stem is a rich source of fibre and helps in weight loss. Pseudo-stem have low glycemic index and have a high content of dietary fibre and antioxidant which is good for diabetes. In many parts of India, the pith or the tender core of the banana pseudo-stem has been used as food after boiling and the addition of spices. Banana central core is rich in fibre and aids in weight loss. It helps to relieve constipation. It is also found to be rich in potassium and vitamin B6. It helps to detoxify the body being a diuretic. It is used in the treatment of kidney stone.  It also helps prevent high blood pressure, and maintain fluid balance within the body. Banana stem is said to be a diuretic and helps detoxify the body. It is used prevent and treat kidney stones. It has been reported that a high dietary fibre intake has beneficial effects on human health. Along with this it is also been used to prepare pickles and candies. Banana stem is also a cost efficient food product as it is usually considered as waste product and bringing waste in use which have so many characteristic qualities and developing value added food product from the same is very efficient. Hence this article focus on developing interesting and novel food which is fresh along with converting the waste into a value added product.

Keywords


Carbohydrates, Fibre, Minerals, Potassium, Disorders, Polyphenols, Antioxidants, Gentisic Acid, Catechin, Protocatechuic Acid, Caffeic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Cinnamic Acid, Weight Loss, Constipation, High Blood Pressure, Fluid Balance, Diuretic, Detoxify, Co

Full Text:

PDF

References


Aziz, N. A. A., Ho, L. H., Azahari, B., Bhat, R., Cheng, L. H., and Ibrahim, M. N. M(2011). Chemical and functional properties of the native banana( Musa acuminata × balbisiana Colla cv. Awak) pseudostem and pseudostem tender core flours. Food Chemistry, 128(3), 748-753.

Bhaskar, J.J., Shobha, M.S., Sambaiah, K. and Salimath, P.V. (2011). Beneficial effects of banana (Musa sp. var. elakki bale) flower and pseudostem on hyperglycemia and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J. Physiol. Biochem., 67 (3) : 415-425.

Chandrasekaran, S.V. (2012). Fibre of health. THE HINDU dated 21.10.2012. Chennai Edition

Dawn, C.P., Ambrose, L.K., R. and Naik, Ravindra (2016a). Studies on the drying kinetics and quality assessment of banana pseudostem waste for effective utilization as a value added product. Internat. J. Farm Sci., 6(2): 276-285.

Dawn, C.P., Ambrose and Naik, Ravindra (2016b). Development of a process for utilisation of banana waste. Nat. & Soc. Sci., 4 (6): 83-88.

Ho, Lee-Hoon, Thuan-chew Tan, Noor AziahAbdul Azizb and Bhatb, Rajeev (2015). In vitro starch digestibility of bread with banana (Musa acuminata X balbisiana ABB cv. AWAK) pseudo-stem flour and hydrocolloids. Food Bioscience., 12 :10–17.

Khan, M.Z.H., Sarkar, M.A.R., Md. Forhad, I.A.I. and Raimo, O.M. (2013). Fiber morphology and pulping study of banana pseudo-stem. Internat. J. Fiber & Textile Res., 3(1): 31–35.

Lakshman, R. and Dawn, C.P. Ambrose (2015). Studies on banana centre core flour prepared by different drying methods. Curr. Agric. Res. J., 3(1) : 55-59.

Mathew, N.S., Negi, P.S. (2017): Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of wild banana (Musa acuminata Colla): a review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 196: 124–140.

Saravanan, Kandasamy and Somaradhya, Mallikarjuna A.(2011). Potential nutraceutical food beverage with antioxidant properties from banana plant bio-waste (Pseudostem and rhizome). Food Funct., 2 : 603-610.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.