Bamboo Species of Odisha, India: Source of Nutraceutical

Bamboos are one of the most important medicinal plant wealth, as they contain a number of bioactive compounds and also have high nutritional values. Bamboos are a source of antioxidants. Bamboo extracts cure several chronic and regenerating diseases. In this study, 18 species of bamboo were studied for their biological importance in their nutritional as well as medicinal properties. Literature data of seven species from the genus Bambusa, five species from Dendrocalamus genus, three species from Phyllostachys genus, two species viz. Sasa borealis and S.senanensis from genus Sasa and one species viz. Pseudosasa japonica from Pseudosasa genus was collected and organized for their nutritional and medicinal values. The data revealed that juvenile bamboo shoots have a lot of health advantages due to the presence of secondary metabolites such as phenols, minerals, carotenoids, dietary fibres, saponin, phytosterols, vitamin C, vitamin E etc. Besides this bamboo shoots and leaves also comprise carbohydrates, eight essential amino acids, a high amount of protein content in fresh shoots and minerals. These minerals may supply defence against many chronic and degenerative diseases and also serve as one of the nutritional resources.