A Review on Medicinal Bamboo: An Ancient Source Towards Healthy Lifestyle

Abstract

Abstract: Bamboos are reported as the most valuable among other forest reserves, comfortably available and also sustainable. Bamboos are observed to be a group of evergreen perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae - (subfamilyBambusoideae). As per reports bamboos have huge divergence in nature consisting of around 1400 species and 115 genera. Bamboo species are used over a long ancient period to produce textiles, boats, paper, furniture, and as a food. Their dried leaves are also used to wrap up decorative items and even food items to protect from any contamination. Various bamboo species contains chemical constituents such as flavonoids, phenols, tannins, lignins and polysaccharides. Other characteristic compounds present in bamboo are caffeic acid, orientin, vitexin, p-coumaric acid, isoorientin and chlorogenic acid. There are many reported studies which showing a wide use of bamboo leaves in Ancient history and even in today’s modern world used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, arteriosclerosis and even few forms of cancer. We have many studies and literature emphasizing upon use of bamboo in medicinal practice in Asian region and Southeast Asian region, but there’s a lot more to be explored in Southern American species. This information shows beneficial results in human health, which are of a great interest in the medical nutrition industry which is an industry that emerged for the convergence between the food and pharma industries.