Wild Banana
Musa acuminata · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (42 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Wild Banana, scientifically known as Musa acuminata, is a versatile tropical plant celebrated for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Beyond its edible fruit, various parts of the plant are utilized in traditional medicine to treat ailments ranging from digestive issues to skin inflammations, offering significant bioactive potential for holistic healing.
- Family
- Musaceae
- Native range
- Europe
- Parts used
- Fruit · Leaf
- Common names
- Wild Banana · Cavendish Banana · 5 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Not available
Names
Common Names
- Wild Banana
- Cavendish banana
- Chinese banana
- banana
- dwarf banana
- edible banana
- apple bananas
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- plátano malayo
- banana malaya
- M. acuminata
- platano malayo
- plátano
- Plátano malayo
German:
- Musa cavendishii
- Musa nana
- Musa sinensis
- Musa zebrina
- Musa chinensis
- Banane
- Zwergbanane
- Bananen
French:
- bananier
- bananier nain
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Musa acuminataTaxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Zingiberales. Finally, it is a member of the family Musaceae and falls under the genus Musa.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Zingiberales | WCVP |
| Family | Musaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Musa | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning several continents and regions. In Southwestern Europe, its presence can be noted specifically within Spain. It also inhabits the Macaronesia region, particularly across the Canary Islands. Moving to West Tropical Africa, the species is found in both Guinea and Senegal. Finally, its distribution extends to East Tropical Africa within the borders of Tanzania.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Canary Is. | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Türkiye | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Musa acuminata, offers various components that are utilized for their medicinal properties. The thick, fleshy pseudostem can be processed to extract juices that are often used to treat inflammation or digestive issues. The peel of the fruit is frequently applied topically to soothe skin irritations and minor wounds. Additionally, the large, green leaves are sometimes used in traditional practices to help reduce swelling or as a protective wrap for medicinal poultices. Finally, even the fruit peels themselves are valued for their antioxidant content and can be used to aid in wound healing or to manage skin conditions.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| fruit | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Musa acuminata has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gallic acid, quercetin, 2-hydroxy-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-phenalen-1-one, 3B, 4-Epicyclomusalenone.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Gallic acid | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-hydroxy-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-phenalen-1-one | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3B | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4-Epicyclomusalenone | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BORON | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CALCIUM | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CHLOROGENIC ACID | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CINNAMIC ACID | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Gallic acid
- Scientific reports
- Food chemistry
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
quercetin
- Scientific reports
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2-hydroxy-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-phenalen-1-one
- Scientific reports
3B
- Genetica
4-Epicyclomusalenone
- Journal of the science of food and agriculture
5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE
- Journal of medicinal food
BORON
- Data in brief
CALCIUM
- Data in brief
CHLOROGENIC ACID
- Journal of the science of food and agriculture
CINNAMIC ACID
- Scientific reports
Activities
Musa acuminata has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiplasmodial.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiplasmodial | Scientifica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Musa acuminata has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Neurodegenerative Diseases, iron deficiency, magnesium deficiency, neurological disorders, potassium deficiency.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Neurodegenerative Diseases | Foods (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| iron deficiency | Data in brief (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| magnesium deficiency | Data in brief (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| neurological disorders | Foods (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| potassium deficiency | Data in brief (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ulcerative colitis | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |