A Review on MUSA

Atluri Bhavana*, U. Mounika Sarojini, S. Joshnavi, I. Pavani, K. Mrudula, G. Loka Swarna Deepika, Y. Krishna Sukanya, K. Padmalatha
Dept. of Pharmacology, Vijaya Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences for Women, Enikepadu, Vijayawada-521108, India.

A B S T R A C T
Banana is commonly a fruit but technically, a berry. The genus Musa of herbaceous plants produces this universally consumed fruit. It is suitable for consumption by people of any age group and so, is one of the world’s most important food producers. Banana offer great medical benefits. This is partly because bananas aid in the body’s retention of calcium, nitrogen and phosphorus, all of which work to build healthy and regenerated tissues. It has a rare combination of energy value, tissue-building elements, protein, vitamins and minerals. It is a good source of calories since it is rich in solids and low in water content as compared to any other fresh fruit. Banana is one of the most important gigantic and oldest cultivated fruit crops grown almost everywhere in India. Presently, the banana pseudo stem is hazardous waste in India while it has been used in several countries to develop important bio-products such as fibre to make yarn, fabric, apparel as well as fertilizer, fish feed, bio-chemicals, paper, handicrafts, pickles, candy, etc. Looking at this perspective, entrepreneurs of India should take this golden opportunity and do the needful for such kind of business. The land of our country is suitable for banana production. Its fruit is a healthy diet and demandable in local markets, as well as the free waste, could be utilized to produce such bio-products which will contribute directly in our national economy. Thus, farmers or entrepreneurs should cultivate more banana trees in unproductive lands of coastal and hilly areas for extra income from the useless wastes and ensure eco-friendly environment. Women can also be employed in production of different bio-products from banana wastes and thus, they can contribute to their livelihood improvement. In conclusion, this review on Musa possess various phytochemicals and it is having an important pharmacological activity which can help in improving various health problems and waste utilization will be of help to the farmers, entrepreneurs, planners, scientists as well.
Keywords: Musa, Phytochemical, Uses, Pseudostem, bio-products, employment, eco-friendly, health care