Monodora myristica (Gaertn.) Dunal: A Plant with Multiple Food, Health and Medicinal Applications: A Review

Abstract

A review. Monodora myristica (Gaertn.) Dunal is a useful but neglected tropical tree of the family Annonaceae distributed in many countries of the tropics and subtropics. It possesses an impressive range of medicinal and nutritional properties. Different parts of this plant such as seeds, bark and flowers contain important minerals and are a good source of protein, vitamins, $-carotene, amino acids and various phenolics. They also contain bioactive substances that exhibit health-beneficial effects, including stimulation of the cardiac and circulatory system, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, diuretic, antihypertensive, cholesterol lowering, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial and antifungal activities. Crude extracts of the plant are being employed for the treatment of different ailments in the indigenous system of medicine, particularly in South Asia. This review focuses on the phytochem. composition, medicinal uses, as well as the pharmacol. properties of different parts of Monodora myristica. Prospects for future exploitation of the plant were also discussed.