Antioxidant and nutraceutical potential of bamboo: an overview

Abstract

The mention of the traditional use of bamboo in Asian medicine dates back to the 6th century. Today people are switching overthe use of herbal medicine instead of the synthetic drugs and bamboo, the ‘Green gold’ has voluminous nutraceutical propertiesand thus forms a core ingredient for research in many laboratory. Scientists from round the globe are exploring bamboo forestablishing its pharmacological mechanism and also record the individual constituents responsible for it. This reviewsummarizes published information on the historical uses, nutritional composition of various parts together with theantioxidative potential and the possible role and mechanism of action of these phytochemical components with regards to theantimicrobial, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-fatigue, anti-lipidemic effect along with effects onthe cardiovascular diseases of this ‘Green gold’.