INTRODUCTION:

In developing countries, traditional medicine is often the only accessible and affordable treatment available. Consumption of medicinal herbs protects and heals a number of ailments and they have been the principal treatment therapy in prehistoric times until the discovery of synthetic drugs in the nineteenth century. About40% of prescription drugs are derived from herbs and about half of the world’s best selling pharmaceutical preparations are derivatives of natural products.

However, in order to make these remedies acceptable to modern medicine, there is a need to scientifically evaluate them to identify the active principles and understand the mechanism of action. However, the mechanism of action of most herbal medicines has not been fully understood, and experience obtained from their traditional use over the years should not be ignored [1-2]. One such medicinal plant, which lacks scientific scrutiny, is Musaceae species. Plants of the genus Musa Spp., grows in humid lowland to upland tropical areas [3] comprising banana and plantain, are among the world’s leading fruit crops, which are large perennial herbs growing from a sympodial rhizome [4]. Most edible bananas and plantains are descended from a wild ancestor, Musa acuminate and Musa balbisiana. Linnaeus, as is well known, used two specific names for edible bananas, Paradisiaca and Sapientum, and the subsequent application of the Linnaean epithets has varied widely with different authorities on Musa. Musasapientum stands for bananas which are known for their edible fruits and Musa paradisiaca standing for ‘Plantains’ and are generally larger, more angular starchy fruits of hybrid triploid cultivars in the banana family intended for cooking [5]. Various parts of M. paradisiaca have been used for various medicinal purposes. It has traditionally been used for antidepressant, antibacterial, antihypertensive, antiulcerogenic [6-7] urolithiasis [8] laxatives, antihelminthics. This indigenous knowledge, passed down from generation to generation in various parts of the world, has significantly contributed to the development of different traditional systems of medicine [9] as well as helped in exploration of different medicinal plants to find the scientific basis of their traditional uses. This exploration of biologically active natural products have played an important role in finding new chemical entities (NCEs) for example, approximately 28% of NCEs between 1981and 2002 were natural products or natural product-derived [10]. This review focuses on two common species of banana widely used as food and vegetable. This review presents the scientific information on uses, isolated chemicals and pharmacological studies to validate the traditional uses of M. paradisiaca and M. sapientum in different types of diseases.

Taxonomical classification:

Musa sapientum var. paradisiaca

Fruit (A) and flower (B) and plant (C).

Kingdom	Plantae – plantes, Planta, Vegetal, plants
Subkingdom	Viridaeplantae – green plants
Infrakingdom	Streptophyta – land plants
Division	Tracheophyta – vascular plants, tracheophytes
Subdivision	Spermatophytina–spermatophytes, seed plants, phanérogames
Infradivision	Angiospermae–flowering plants, angiosperms, plantas com flor, angiosperma, plantes a fleurs, angiospermes, plantes à fruits
Class	Magnoliopsida
Superorder	Lilianae–monocots, monocotyledons, monocotyledones
Order	Zingiberales
Family	Musaceae – banana
Genus	Musa L. – banana
Species	Musa X sapientum var. paradisiaca L. (pro sp.) – banana, plantain, French plantain.

Origin and cultivation:

The origins of the banana are as complex and convoluted as the nature of the banana’s taxonomic origins themselves. Archeologists have focused on the Kuk valley of New Guinea around 8,000 BCE (Before Common Era) as the area where humans first domesticated the banana. Additionally, though this is the first known location of banana domestication, other spontaneous domestication projects may have occurred throughout the Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. Therefore, Kuk is the first known instance of banana domestication, but it is probably not the cradle from which all other domesticated species sprang [11].

In different countries about 300 varieties of bananas are grown, of which a vast majority have been growing in Asian, Indo-Malaysian and Australian tropics and are now widely found throughout the tropical and subtropical countries. India, Philippines, China, Ecuador, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Thailand are the top banana producing countries. It is extensively grown and cultivated as a fruit plant all over Bangladesh. The banana grows almost everywhere in the country throughout the year. The principal banana growing areas however, are Rangamati, Barisal, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Noakhali, Faridpur and Khulna[12].

Traditional uses:

Many traditional uses of banana have been well documented, for example, the leaf and stem are used to treat diarrhoea; the stem is good for asthenia and wounds, and the leaf for the treatment of inflammation, headache and rheumatism [13]. Previous studies reported that M. Paradisiaca had antimicrobial and healing activities. Nevertheless, only a few studies have reported on the efficacy of this plant against nematodes [14].Various parts of M. Paradisiaca have been used for various medicinal purposes. It has traditionally been used for antidepressant, antibacterial, antihypertensive, antiulcerogenic [6-7] urolithiasis [8] laxatives, antihelmin, analgesic, antifungal, constipation, wound healing, fevers, burns, diarrhoea, inflammation, pains and antivenomic for snake bites [9–11]. Flowers are used in dysentery and menorrhagia. Stem juice of fruited plant is used for treating diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, otalgia, haemoptysis and flower is used in dysentery, diabetes and menorrhagia [15]. The root is used as antihelmintic [16], blood disorders and venereal diseases [15].

Phytochemicals and mineral contents:

Catecholamines such as norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine [17].Tryptophan, indole compounds [18]. pectin have been found in the pulp. Several flavonoids and related compounds (Leucocyanidin, quercetin and its 3-Ogalactoside, 3-O-glucoside, and 3-O-rhamnosyl glucoside) were isolated from the unripe pulp of plantain [19 - 21]. Serotonin, nor-epinephrine, tryptophan, indole compounds, tannin, starch, iron, crystallisable and non-crystallisable sugars, vitamin C, B-vitamins, albuminoids, fats, mineral salts have been found in the fruit pulp of M. paradisiaca and M. sapientum [15].Carbohydrates have been isolated from M. sapientum [22]. Cellulose, hemicelluloses, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, leucine, valine, phenylalanine and threonine have been isolated from pulp and peel of M. paradisiaca [23-24]. Hemiterpenoid glucoside (1,1-dimethylallylalcohol), syringin, (6S, 9R)-roseoside, benzyl alcohol glucoside, (24R)-4α,l4 α,24-trimethyl-Sacholesta-8,25(27) dien-3β-o1 have been isolated from flower of M. paradisiaca [25-26].

Table 1. Macro and micro elements found in Musa species in mg/ 100grams[27].

Elements	Mg/100 dry sample
Sodium	444.12±4.08
Potassium	944.12±1.41
Calcium	1335.33±14.1
Magnesium	255.00±2.83
Phosphorus	137.82±1.89
Iron	3.31±0.05
Zinc	8.05±0.05
Manganese	1.27±0.11

Values are presented as mean+SD.

Pharmacological Activities:

The various effects of Musa paradisiaca Linn. are documented in traditional as well as scientific literature. The main pharmacologial effects of this plant are anti-diabetic activity, antiulcer activity, antioxidant property, wound healing, hair growth promoter, diuretic, analgesic, augmenting action on skeletal muscle contraction, antihypertensive activity, anti-allergic activity and mutagenic effects and haemostatic activity in which a few are reported.

Antidiabetic activity:

Methanolic extracts of mature green fruit of Musa paradisiaca in normal and Streptozocin treated diabetic mice using Chlorpropamide as antidiabetic agent. MEMP (100-800 mg/kg, p.o) showed significant doserelated (p<0.05–0.001) reduction in the blood glucose concentration in normal and diabetic mice. Chlorpropamide (250 mg/kg p.o) also produced significant (p<0.01 and p<0.001) reduction in the blood glucose concentration in normal and diabetic mice [28].

The antihyperglycemic activity was studied, where Oral administration of 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25 g/kg body weight of the chloroform extract of the Musa sapientum flowers for 30 days resulted in a significant reduction in blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin and an increase in total haemoglobin [29]. The effect of Methanolic Extract of Musa sapientum Sucker on fasting blood glucose has been studied. Alloxan induced hyperglyceamic rats was evaluated and compared with that of glibenclamide as a reference drug, The fasting blood glucose was calculated using one touch life scan glucometer. The extract of Musa sapientum at all tested doses (5mgand 10mg kg-1/ day) significantly (p<0.05) lowered fasting blood glucose level in the treated rats compared with the diabetic but untreated rats (test control) [30].

Antiulcer activity:

Banana is used in the herbal medicine to treat peptic ulcer disease. The use of M. sapientum in peptic ulcer as a component of herbal medicine has been evaluated and found effective[31]. It was reported that pectin and phosphatidylcholine in green banana strengthens the mucousphospholipid layer that protects the gastric mucosa [32] and also reported that the gastric mucosa protective activity of the banana is due to multiple active components. The natural flavonoid from the unripe banana (M. sapientum var. paradisiaca) pulp, leucocyanidin, protects the gastric mucosa from erosions. Leucocyanidin and the synthetic analogues, hydroxyethylated leucocyanidin and tetraallyl leucocyanidin were found to protect the gastric mucosa in aspirin-induced erosions in rat by increasing gastric mucus thickness [33]. Goelet al.,(1986) reported that banana pulp powder (M. Sapientumvar. paradisiaca) showed significant antiulcerogenic activity in aspirin-, indomethacin-, phenylbutazone-, prednisolone-induced gastric ulcers and cysteamine- and histamine-induced duodenal ulcers in rats and guinea-pigs, respectively. The authors attributed the effect to increased mucosal thickness and increased [3H] thymidine incorporation into mucosal DNA that results in mucosal cellular proliferation and healing. Mukhopadhyayaet al.,(1987) also found the same effects like Goel et al.,(1986) in rat after orally administering banana pulp powder as aqueous suspension at 0.5 g/kg twice daily dose for 3 days. They also reported a significant decrease in gastric juice DNA content after the treatment [34]. Pannangpetchet al.,(2001) reported that the antiulcerative effect of banana may vary depending on different varieties of banana. They showed that the ethanolic extract of both M. sapientum and M. paradisiaca have significant gastroprotective effect but only M. paradisiaca promotes ulcer healing by a similar mechanism like prostaglandins[ 35]. Jainet al.,(2007) also reported acid neutralizing capacity of M. sapientum fruit peel ash in rats [36].

Histological studies showed that banana treatment sections showed a greater aggregation and intensity of pink spots when compared to controls. This study suggests that banana powder treatment not only strengthens mucosal resistance against ulcerogens but also promotes healing by inducing cellular proliferation. The active ulcerogenic ingredient was extracted from unripe plantain banana by solvent fractionation and identified by chromatography, spectroscopy and HPLC. As the flavanoid leucocyanidin and purified synthetic leucocyanidin demonstrated significant (p<0.05) protective effect against aspirin induced erosion. Extracts of plantain (Musa sapientum Linn. var. paradisiaca was studied on the accumulation of eicosanoids in incubates of human gastric and colonic mucosa. The ethanol extracts caused a concentration dependent increase in the eicosanoid but the water extract was ineffective. Methanolic extracts of plantain banana pulp was evaluated for its antiulcer and antioxidant activities in 2 hr cold restraint stress and anti H. pylori activity in vitro. The extract (50mg/kg twice daily for 5 days) showed significant antiulcer effect and antioxidant activity in gastric mucosa homogenates where it reversed the increase in ulcer index, lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase values induced by stress [37].

Antioxidant property:

The antioxidant behavior of the extracts was evaluated by using the thiocyanate method, ß-carotene bleaching method and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical elimination. Antioxidant activity of water extracts was comparable to those of synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene and it shows a significant antioxidant property. The antioxidant effects of crude extracts from green banana and yellow peel were investigated and the results indicated that the extract of green peel recorded more significant activities than that of yellow peel at other solvents extracts [38].

Wound healing activity:

The rats were given graded dose of (50-200 Kg/day) of aqueous and methanolic extract of Musa sapientum var. paradisiaca orally for a period of 10-21 days depending upon the type of study. Both extracts when studied for incision and dead space wounds parameters increased wound breaking strength and levels of hydroxyl proline, hexuronic acid, hexosamine, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione in the granulation tissue and decreased percentage of wound area, scar area when compared with the control group both the extracts showed good safety profile [38].

Hair growth promoting activity:

For the evaluation of the hair growth promoting activity of Musa paradisiaca unripe fruit extract, the study was aimed to investigate the hair growth promoting activity of Musa paradisiaca unripe fruit extract. The effect of Musa paradisiaca unripe fruit extract for the hair growth promoting activity, which has been traditionally used for treating hair loss was examined. The mice were divided into four groups the extract and minoxidil were applied over the shaved skin surface on to the backs of mice and monitored for 30 days. The extract of Musa paradisiaca unripe fruit when tested for the hair growth activity was assayed by studying hair length and microscopic study of follicles in vehicle control, 2% minoxidil treated and extracts treated animals. The findings suggest that extract of Musa paradisiaca unripe fruit has potential as a hair growth promoter [39-40].

Analgesic activity:

The analgesic activity of aqueous extract of the plant was evaluated using the hot plate method and writhing test in mice. The hot plate method is useful in detecting centrally acting analgesics whereas acetic acid induced writhing method is useful to detect peripheral analgesic effects. Acetic acid, which is used as an inducer for writhing syndrome, causes analgesia by liberation of endogenous substances, which then excite the pain nerve endings. The fact that aqueous extract of Musa paradisiaca showed analgesic activity in both the models studied, indicate that this effect could be due to the presence of two components; one acting centrally and the other via peripheral route from the above results, it can be deduced that aqueous extract has shown dose dependent activity. As the phytochemical screening has shown the presence of carbohydrates, sterols, proteins, flavonoids, alkaloids in aqueous extract of Musa paradisiaca leaves, its potent activity may be attributed to the presence of these phytoconstituents [41].

Augmenting action on skeletal muscle contraction:

Augmentation action in skeletal muscles was studied by taking an extract obtained from juice expressed from the stem of the plantain banana tree (Musa sapientum L., var. paradisiaca) induces twitch augmentation in skeletal muscle. The mechanism of this action was investigated in the mouse hemi-diaphragm preparation. Directly evoked twitches and potassium induced (K+) contractures were both increased by the extract [42].

Diuretic activity:

Ash of the peel of M. sapientum showed an increase in urine volume and K+ as well as other electrolyte excretion than normal saline in a study in rats. Successive ethanolic extract also give this diuretic effect [36]. Phytochemicals such as saponin, flavonoids and terpenoids are known to be responsible for this effect [43-45].

Antihypertensive activity:

The antihypertensive effect of M. paradisiaca in albino rats was reported by Osimet al.,(1990) [46]. Later Osim and Ibu (1991) reported that banana diet has a mean arterial blood pressure lowering as well as onset preventing effect in rats with elevated blood pressure induced by desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) administration [47]. Perfumiet al.,1994) reported that the antihypertensive effect of ripe banana pulp in deoxycorticosterone enantate-induced hypertensive rats which may be due to the high tryptophan and carbohydrate content of banana that increases serotonin levels and gives serotonin-mediated natriorexic effect [48].

However, Orie (1997) reported that serotonin produced a contraction in place of relaxation in isolated rat aortic rings. The aqueous extract of the ripe M. paradisiaca fruit was found to give a concentration-dependent hypotensive effect in both noradrenaline and potassium chloride-contracted aortic rings isolated from rat. The effect was due to the non-specific interference in calcium ion availability needed for the smooth muscle contraction that results in relaxation[49].

Mutagenecity:

It was reported the mutagenic effect of M. paradisiaca fruit peel extract in mice assessed by the single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and micronucleus assays. The experiments showed DNA damaging property in peripheral blood leukocytes for 1500 and 2000 mg/kg body weight [39].

Anti-allergic activity:

The water extract of pulp of ripe M. sapientum has been reported to have significant anti-allergic activity on antigen induced degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells with an IC50 value of 13.5±2.4 [50].

CONCLUSION:

This literature review presents some taxonomy, traditional uses, phytochemicals, minerals and detailed pharmacological information of Musa paradisiaca var. sapientum Linn. Some pharmacological studies has been reported and number of activities require the proper scientific justification on the plant in which diarrhoea, dysentery, ulcer, antispasmodic, hypertension, nephroprotective activity and cardiac diseases etc., are scientifically possible. The different phytoconstituents present in the unripe fruit extract of the plant viz; alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, flavonoids etc that gives the possibility of expected pharmacological activities and which help for further research and treatment for the patients.

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Received on 16.09.2014 Modified on 15.10.2014

Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 7(11): Nov. 2014 Page 1356-1361