AN OVERVIEW ON PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF MUSA SAPIENTUM AND MUSA PARADISIACA

Abstract

Banana plant (Musa sapientum, Musa paradisiaca) is a herb, in the genus Musa. It is cultivated mainly for its fruit. The plants are mostly large perennial herbs with rhizomes, with stout and unbranched stem. Leaves are simple large with stem clasping sheaths. The fruit is a woody capsule or leathery or fleshy soft berry. The fruit average 125 gm, of which approximately 75% is water and 25% dry matter content. Bananas are valuable source of vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium. The plant is reported to have antiulcerogenic, antilithiatic, antimicrobial, analgesic, antihypertensive, antidiarrhoeal, antiallergic, antioxidant, diuretic, hypolipidemic, hypoglycaemic, hair growth promoting, haemostatic, muscle relaxant, mutagenic, wound healing and vasodilatory activities. A vast majority of our population depend largely on herbal medicines. This review gives an overview mainly on the medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological actions of banana plant.