148
Vasso Apostolopoulos
Green bananas in general are incredibly nutri-
activity [15]. Methanolic extracts found in green
resistant starch [2], vitamin A [3], vitamin B6 [4,
glutathione concentration in granulation tissues,
made from dehydrated or naturally dried green
banana (including monthan species) [1] are used
green banana diet. Green bananas are also reported
skin (unpeeled), has a higher nutritional value
cyanidin [19]. Oral administration of green banana
total phenolics and higher anti-oxidant activity
-
anti-fungal compounds in banana skins that need
to be considered [8]. The human health implications both positive and negative may need to be
gastric mucus thickness in aspirin-induced gastric
are used in foods.
Diarrhea is a common gastrointestinal problem in children. A green banana diet has been
of cooked green bananas [9-12]. In one study,
cooked green bananas given to 73 children aged
Shigella,
-
[13]. These studies suggest green bananas could
be included in the diet as an adjunct in the management of Shigellosis. Flavonoids and saponins
present in green bananas might be responsible for
the anti-diarrheal activity by inhibiting intestinal
inhibiting the release of histamines [14]. Green ba-
Flavonoids present in green bananas have
phospholipids, free fatty acids and triglycerides in
the serum, liver, kidney and brain of experimental
animals. Higher rates of cholesterol degradation
are also observed in rats through increased levels
of hepatic, fecal bile acids and fecal neutral sterols
[22]. Furthermore, consumption of green banana
in rats [23, 24] and has been noted to reduce systolic blood pressure in humans [25].
There is evidence that lectins found in green
bananas could provide a potential treatment for
HIV patients and other viral infections such as,
Ebola and hepatitis [26-28]. Other parts of the
banana plant also have potential use in medical foods. For example banana leaf extracts
from different species of Musa bananas have
Musa paradisiaca
Musa acuminata being the most
active against multi-drug resistant nosocomial
infection causing pathogens [29]. Musa paradisiaca species also demonstrates anti-bacterial
activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
Staphylococcus aureus [17] and anti-coccidial
activity in chickens [30]. In addition, banana peel
P.
gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans [31].
Interestingly, Musa paradisiaca may also offer
some protection against snake venom toxicity
-
figure 1.
LET’S GO BANANAS! GREEN BANANAS AND THEIR HEALTH BENEFITS
function induced by diabetes, can result in high
levels of oxidative stress released by testicular
Musa paradisiaca extract resulted in correction of testic-
149
rical study on inhibitory effect of vitamin
B6 and banana-stem extract on calcium
5
the management of testicular disorders associMusa paradisiaca banana is reported
to enhance the metabolism of carbohydrates in
cholesterol free fed rats [34] and reduce blood
sugar levels in diabetic induced rats [35]. In one
Roth-Maier DA, Kettler SI, Kirchgessner M.
Availability of vitamin B6 from different food
Ginani JS, Montenegro FM, Pratesi R. Green
banana pasta: an alternative for gluten-free
Aziah AA. Chemical composition and physicochemical properties of green banana (Musa
reductions in systolic blood pressure and fasting
8
unripe Musa paradisiaca
context for human dietary interventions [37].
concLUSion
studies to demonstrate that Green bananas appear
-
health, including their effects on immune cells as
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Marni F, Akhtar M, et al. Green banana reduces clinical severity of childhood shigellosis: a
double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical
Fitzgerald MH, Marks GC. Carotenoid-rich
bananas: a potential food source for allevi-
Antidiarrhoeal activity of Musa paradisiaca
Alternat Med. 2015:Article ID, 683726.