INTRODUCTION:

Musa paradisiaca (Banana; family Musaceae)is one of the most popular fruits in the world and it is considered to be derived from two wild species i.e. Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. This fruit especially banana is considered to be a rich source of carbohydrates and potassium while they are low in protein content [1, 2]. In banana, peels are used in the form of fertilizer or most of the time people will discarded. This is happening not only in India but also observed in all over the world. In addition, various part of banana products are used for various purposes e.g. ripe fruit showed enormous production of alcohol and also used as medicinal properties for the treatment of gastric ulcer.

As per the literature, there is significant amount of potassium were observed as compared to sodium ions in the peel samples of banana [3-5]. One of the most familiar example is observed in one of these diseases e.g. hypertension (higher sodium to potassium ratio). Similarly, phosphorus is also reported in the peels of banana and it is involved in various biological processes i.e. bone mineralization, energy production, cell signalling and regulation of acid-base homeostasis. In addition, zinc and copper are also reported and its function is total different.

One of the functions of essential elements i.e. zinc which is required for insulin regulation and is still under the control of pancreatic tissues. In one of the studies observed in unripe plantain peel that showed higher amount of zinc compared with other peel samples.Similarly, copper is also being used for various neurological disorders i.e. Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease etc. [4-6] As per the literature, more than hundreds of varieties of edible bananas are reported. Most importantly, these two species i.e.Musa acuminataand M. balbisiana are considered to be one of the parents of edible seedless bananas eaten by man [7]. Generally, bananas and plantains origin from the same species but is totally varied in proportion of sugar and starch. Cultivars with high proportion of sugar content are called bananas (eaten fresh or cooked when green); those with high starch (plantains and cooking bananas) content and these are eaten only after cooking. Both of them showed higher amount of carbohydrates, fiber, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and several vitamins. In view of this, most of these species of Musa especially paradisiaca are attacked by numerous pests and pathogens (nematodes, fungus etc.) [7, 8]. In this review, a general information about Musa paradisiaca has been given from the bioactivity point of view:

Antioxidant activity:

One of the species i.e. Musa paradisiaca showed strong antioxidant activity and this activity could be due to the presence of vitamin C and E in all these extracts (water, ethanol and chloroform). In comparison with of them, peel of Musa paradisiaca (Fig.1) showed higher antioxidant activity (higher vitamin C production) in case of chloroform extract followed by water and ethanol whereas vitamin E is present only in chloroform extract. In addition, one of the monosaccharides i.e. glucose that was present in all extracts of Musa paradisiaca peel whereas fructose is present in the form of keto sugar that was present only in aqueous and ethanol extract. The most common feature in three of them is showed the presence of methionine, amino acid content. So, these studies will provide some informationrelated to its antioxidant properties. Most of the important phytochemicals that are present in all three extracts i.e. alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, proteins, flavonoids and terpenoids. In short, peel of Musa paradisiaca serves as a natural source of various phytochemicals and showed its antioxidant properties [9, 10].

Fig.1. Banana peel

Antimicrobial activity:

Numerous antibiotics are produced by various pharmaceutical industries for the last 30 years in order to reduce the burden of various microbial or infectious diseases. Now a day, demanding of antibiotics has been increased day by day. But the major problem that is observed in animals including human showed several side effects related to its synthetic origin of antibiotics but it showed several side effects. In this regard, researchers focused on fruits or medicinal plants in order to isolate antibiotics and tried to reduce its side effects. Similarly, leaves (hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol) extract of Musa paradisiacal (Fig.2) were determined its antibacterial activity against multi-drug resistant pathogens. In Musa paradisiaca showed highest activity against tested pathogens particularly E. coli, P. aeruginosa andCitrobacter species. In comparison with different Musa species, Musa paradisiaca displayed efficient antibacterial activity followed by Musa acuminata against multidrug resistant nosocomial infection causing pathogens [11, 12].

Fig.2. Leaves, Musa paradisiaca

Hepatoprotective activity:

One of the hepatic disorders i.e. Liver is considered to be a worldwide health problem. Two major disorders i.e. Jaundice and hepatitis are reported in all over the world and showed high death rate. Unfortunately, lacking of synthetic drugs that are used in the treatment of liver diseases are inadequate and showed serious side effects. In this regard, researchers focused on hepatoprotective activity of medicinal plants including fruits as well. In view of this, alcoholic and aqueous extracts of stem of M. paradisiaca (Fig.3) was determined its hepatoprotective activity and these studies claimed that alcoholic and aqueous stem extract at higher doses showed significant effect on the liver of CCl₄ and paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity animal models [13].

Fig.3. Stem, Musa paradisiaca

Immunosuppressive activity:

Numerousresearchers were struggled related to immunosuppressive drugs and these drugs were structurally modified or origin from plant. These immunosuppressive drugs that directly targeting the co-stimulatory molecules or down streaming pathways and tried to avoiding less toxicity which is associated with the presence of numerous steroids and calcineurin inhibitors i.e. cyclosporine and tacrolimus [14]. The major difference in between these immunosuppressive compounds (naturally or synthetically) were claimed as well as reported on the basis of its mechanism of action e.g. cyclosporine and betamethasone which inhibits T cell proliferation [14]. In this review, we mentioned about polyphenols extracted from the peels of Musa paradisiaca and results of these studies showed that these polyphenols inhibited T cell population in lysed human whole blood containing specific (rubella, protein) vaccine antigen and also showed decline in antibody titre at higher doses in vitro (against rubella vaccine) as compared to control. Overall the data indicates its immunosuppressive effect in polyphenols [15] extracted from the peels of Musa paradisiaca.

Antidiabetic activity:

Diabetes, metabolic disorder characterized through chronic hyperglycemic condition resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. As per the literature, number of medicinal plant products showed its potential against cardiovascular disease i.e. diabetes (Type 1 and 2 diabetes; silent killer). Lot of research work is already done related to diabetes and number of medicinal plants are reported and showed anti-diabetic activity [16, 17] e.g. Syzygium cumini, Emblica officinalis etc.In continuation of these studies, polyphenols extracted from the peels of Musa paradisiaca on human diabetic whole blood samples and the results showed that these polyphenols at a very lower concentration reduced the total cellular content as compared to Huminsulin 50/50 and control. In other words, polyphenols from Musa paradisiacaare the major source for drug development. In an effort to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease i.e. diabetes with Huminsulin 50/50 for Type 1 diabetes which is already available in the market but we need plant based formulation which is effective agent for next generation and considered as potent antidiabetic agent. In this study, polyphenols showed significant antidiabetic effect extracted from the peels of Musa paradisiaca[15].

Glucose homeostasis:

The effect of aqueous and n-butanol leaves fractions of Musa paradisiacareduced glycemia condition and increased in the amount of liver glycogen content that observed in hyperglycemic rats which inhibited maltase activity in vitro. Oral administration of n-butanol fraction showed significant enhancement in insulin secretion and muscle glycogen content in hyperglycemic rats.

Fig.4. Rutin

Phytochemical analysis demonstrated the existence of rutin that are present in crude extract and fractions of M. x paradisiaca leaves as the major compound. These beneficial effects of Musa paradisiaca on the regulation of glucose homeostasis were observed and existence of rutin (Fig.4) indicates its potential anti-diabetic properties or modulate glucose homeostasis [18].

Antiasthmatic activity:

In Musa paradisiaca, hydroalcoholicflower extract of Musa paradisiaca flower (HMPF) showed antiasthmatic activity. This activity could be due to decline in bronchospasm induced by histamine or acetylcholine that is observed in guinea pigs; degranulation of mast cell in rats and histamine-induced constriction in isolated guinea pig trachea, when compared with the inducer group [19].

Antiulcer activity:

InMusa paradisiaca, bhasma (calcinated metals and minerals) is prepared and showed its antiulcer activity in albino wistar rats. This activity could be due to dose dependant change in gastric mucosal defensive factors i.e. ulcer index, mucin content and non-protein sulfhydryl group [20].

CONCLUSION:

The present studies indicated its immuno pharmacological activities of Musa paradisiaca and these activities could be due to the presence of secondary metabolites that are present in flowers, peel, leaves etc. These studies underscores some nutritional relevance and also claimed some medicinal properties or potential of Musa paradisiaca products. More immunological and virologicalstudies are recommended in this direction that will help in the conversion of these plant products into more useful products.

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Received on 14.04.2017 Modified on 15.05.2017

Res. J. Pharmacognosy and Phytochem. 2017; 9(4): 253-256.

DOI: 10.5958/0975-4385.2017.00047.4