Water Chestnut (Trapa natans L.): Functional characteristics, nutritional properties and applications in food industry: A review

Abstract

An annual floating-leaved aquatic plant, the water chestnut (Trapa natans L.), is found in temperate and tropical freshwater wetlands, rivers, lakes, ponds, and estuaries. Hydrophytes that produce starch called water chestnut has the potential to serve as a reliable food supply, particularly in flood-prone wasteland areas. It is loaded with minerals and essential nutrients. Water chestnuts are not actually nuts, despite their name. They are aquatic tuber vegetables that may be found in shallow lakes, paddy fields, marshes, and ponds. Water chestnuts are indigenous to numerous islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans, as well as Southeast Asia, Southern China, Taiwan, Australia, and Africa. When the corm, or bulb, acquires a dark brown hue, they are picked. They are a typical ingredient in Asian recipes including stir-fries, chop suey, curries, and salads because of their crisp, white meat, which may be eaten raw or cooked. The huge, nourishing seed of the water chestnut, a native of Eurasia and Africa, has been widely collected since the Neolithic, and it is now grown for food throughout Asia. Water chestnuts have several advantages over other foods, including being particularly nutrient-dense and low in calories. A wonderful source of fibre, water chestnuts may aid in promoting bowel movements, lowering blood cholesterol, neuro-protective, controlling blood sugar levels, and maintaining the health of your gut. In addition, carbohydrates account for the majority of the calories in water chestnuts. Although they are abundant in fibre, potassium, manganese, copper, vitamin B6, and riboflavin, uncooked water chestnuts are 74% water, which means they are often low in calories. Due to its usage in the treatment of gastrointestinal illnesses, genitourinary system disorders, liver, kidney, and spleen disorders, Trapa natans is one of the most significant medicinal plants in Indian Ayurveda.