Year: 2024 | Month: October-December | Volume: 9 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 271-276
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijshr.20240434
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) as a Nutraceutical - A Concise Review on Health Benefits
S. S. Sreenivas
Chief Technical Officer (Rtd),
ICAR- Central Tobacco Research Institute, Research Station, Hunsur, Karnataka,
Corresponding Author: Dr. S. S. Sreenivas
ABSTRACT
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L,) is an annual vegetable crop belonging to Malvaceae family cultivated in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions. The vegetable, ladies finger is a common in Indian kitchens and finds its place in many cuisines. Okra as a medicinal plant with useful carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, minerals, and vitamins and flavonoid compounds is a highly nutritive supplement. Okra is well documented in traditional medicine as a home remedy for common ailments. The vegetable is consumed in many forms like fried, boiled, and cooked. Okra water obtained by over-night soaking of sliced pod taken on empty stomach adds to all-round health, Studies suggest okra pod, seeds, leaves and roots are of medicinal value in treatment of diarrhea, hyper glycemia and dyslipidemia etc. Okra with low glycemic Index (20) and soluble fiber content is an ideal nutritive supplement to diabetics.
Keywords: Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Moench), medicinal value, health benefits