A review of the ethnomedicinal, antimicrobial, and phytochemical properties of Musa paradisiaca (plantain)

TLDR: In this article, the authors investigated the scientific justification of the extensive use of Musa paradisiaca (plantain) in traditional medicine and concluded that the plantain is a veritable source for drug bioprospecting that will benefit to scientific research and pharmaceutical industries.

Abstract: More people—in both developing and developed countries—now use, and are favourably disposed to, traditional medicine. Musa paradisiaca (plantain) is used extensively in traditional medicine across continents. In this review, we investigated the scientific justification of this extensive usage. Generally, several studies validate usage in infectious diseases, but limited antiviral and in vivo reports exist. The mechanistic elicitation of antimicrobial activity has similarly not been ascertained. Contrarily, data abound from rigorous studies on physiological conditions. Activity across categories is tied to the potent phytosterols duo of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol; and the triterpenes viz. cycloeucalenone, 24-methylene-cycloartanol, and 31-norcyclolaudenone; present in plantain. Toxicity studies, while finite, suggest general safety and tolerance. Findings in the studies reviewed projects plantain as a veritable source for drug bioprospecting that will be of benefit to scientific research and pharmaceutical industries.