title: Nutritional properties of the largest bamboo fruit Melocanna baccifera and its ecological significance.
abstract: Melocanna baccifera is a unique bamboo which produces the largest fruits in the grass family. Its gregarious flowering once in 45-50 years in north east India and adjacent regions is a botanical enigma, resulting in a glut of fruits. Proper utilization of M. baccifera fruits is not extant, and huge quantities of fruits are left underexploited due to lack of scientific information on their chemical composition and nutritional potential. Here we report the nutritional properties of M. baccifera fruits, and the ecological significance of its fruiting. This pear-shaped, fleshy bamboo fruit is rich in amino acids (lysine, glutamic acid), sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose) and phenolics (ferulic acid). Protein content (free, bound) in M. baccifera fruits is very low. Fruits are rich in saturated fatty acids (palmitic acid), minerals (potassium), and only B series vitamins (B3) are detected in them. Rat feeding experiments showed that M. baccifera fruit alone is not a complete food, but with other protein supplements, it is a valuable food additive. This study could lead to better utilization of M. baccifera fruits during future flowering/fruiting events. These results could also help in the successful management of rodent outbreaks and other ecological problems associated with M. baccifera fruiting.
authors.affiliation: Phytochemistry and Phytopharmacology Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Pacha-Palode, Thiruvananthapuram 695 562 Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Balaji
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Govindan
authors.affiliation: Phytochemistry and Phytopharmacology Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Pacha-Palode, Thiruvananthapuram 695 562 Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Anil John
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Phytochemistry and Phytopharmacology Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Pacha-Palode, Thiruvananthapuram 695 562 Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Sadasivan Nair Ajikumaran
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: Plant Genetic Resources Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Pacha-Palode, Thiruvananthapuram 695 562 Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Bhaskaran
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gopakumar
authors.affiliation: Centre for Lipid Research, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500 607, India.
authors.forename: Karuna Sri Lakshmi
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Mallampalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Sri Paramakalyani College (Manonmaniom Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli), Alwarkurichi 627 412, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Ramaswamy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Venkataraman
authors.affiliation: Plant Genetic Resources Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Pacha-Palode, Thiruvananthapuram 695 562 Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Konnath Chacko
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Koshy
authors.affiliation: Phytochemistry and Phytopharmacology Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Pacha-Palode, Thiruvananthapuram 695 562 Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Sabulal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baby
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005504:Food Analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D007194:India; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D000073893:Sugars / Q000032:analysis; D014815:Vitamins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008903:Minerals; D010636:Phenols; D011506:Proteins; D000073893:Sugars; D014815:Vitamins