Abstract

MUSA SIKKIMENSIS, A PROMISING UNEXPLORED PLANT: A BRIEF REVIEW

Nihar Ranjan Sarmah, Preety Rani Gupta, Raksha Sharma, Tashi Narbu Moktan,

Abstract

Banana is an edible fruit which is consumed worldwide. It consists of a variety of species which are regarded as traditionally used medicine. Various parts of banana belonging to the family Musaceae may have been used since ancient times to treat various diseases. Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of banana peels, flower and seeds have been used in traditional medicine due to their antihypertensive activity, antimicrobial activity, antidiabetic activity, anti-ulcer activity, antidiarrheal activity, nutritional value etc. Pharmacological activities of many species coming under the family musaceae are yet to be discovered. One such species Musa sikkimensis belonging to the family Musaceae is a native plant of Northeast India which is used by the indigenous people of that region as an ornamental fruit. It is used as a traditional medicinal plant which can be used to treat different diseases such as diarrhoea, parasitic infections, ulcers, diabetes etc. Different parts of the plant contain various phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that musa species have anti-ulcer, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, anti-diuretics and other activities.

Keywords: musa, banana, darjeeling banana, Bankera.