Banana (Musa spp.) as a source of bioactive compounds for health promotion

Abstract

Banana and plantain are monocotyledonous plants belonging to the genus Musa, family Musaceae, and order Zingiberales. All around the world, the importance of banana plant increases with its different applications in pharmaceutical and food industries and in other biotechnologically related processes. This chapter provides an overview of bioactive compounds in banana and biological activities of banana's secondary metabolites. Raw and mature bananas have a characteristic matrix of bioactive compounds such as phenolics, carotenoids, biogenic amines, and phytosterols, which are highly desirable in the diet as they have many positive effects on human health and well-being. Antioxidants serve to keep down the levels of free radicals, permitting them to perform useful biological functions without damaging cells and preventing diseases. Banana peel extract is a potential source of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids and polyphenols, with a wide range of medicinal properties, in particular the high free radical scavenging activity.