A Review of Taro Leaves on Its Phytochemical Screening and Approach on Anti-diabetic Activities on Specific Receptor

Abstract

Taro, scientifically known as Colocasia esculenta, is a plant that holds considerable nutritional and medicinal importance. Its leaves are structured with multiple layers of palisade and air-filled spongy mesophyll. The vascular traces are surrounded by a ring of vacuolate cells that could extend to both the upper and lower epidermis. The leaves have stomata on both sides, with a higher number on the abaxial side. The stalk of the taro leaf is rich in various compounds such as saponins, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, steroids, and terpenoids, which have potential medicinal uses, including wound healing and antioxidant properties. An interesting feature of the taro leaf is the presence of water bubbles on its surface, which trap air in the cavity, forming a silvery layer. Although the bundle sheath is present in the taro leaf, there is no definitive proof to suggest that taro can perform carbon fixation via a C4 pathway. This research offers insights into the morphological characteristics of taro, its culinary uses, cultivation regions, and seasons. It also highlights the genetic variations among different genotypes, which could be useful for breeding programs.