BANANA BLOSSOM: NUTRITIONAL VALUE, HEALTH BENEFITS AND ITS UTILIZATION

Abstract

Bananas are an attractive and low-cost food supply for poor countries, where bananas are consumed by the majority of the population. Typically, only the fruit of the banana tree is consumed, and before the fruit is cooked, the banana heart is chopped out and thrown. However, many people are unaware that the banana heart, also known as the banana blossom, has a high nutritional content and numerous health benefits. The blossom of a banana contains a lot of fiber and can be used to make fiber-rich foods. In addition, the flower includes a variety of bioactive substances, such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds, all of which have anti-cancer, anti-microbial, and antioxidant activities. This plant is often used as a food additive in many Asian countries. On the other hand, the banana flower has received only sporadic attention. As a result, the aim of this review is to evaluate the nutritionally dense compact pack of banana blossoms and highlight the value-added product fortified with banana blossoms. So, these unique nutritional values of banana blossom should get maximum utilization, and incorporation of this banana blossom in food products can be performed for value addition.