Antioxidant and anti-atherosclerotic potential of Banana (Musa spp): A review of biological mechanisms for prevention and protection against atherosclerosis.

Objective: To review the antioxidant and anti-atherosclerotic potential of whole banana, banana flour, and its bioactive compounds.

Materials and methods: A non-systematic review of the literature covering the past 20 years, using the following databases and searching bases: PUBMED/MEDLINE: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/; Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com.br/; and "Literatura Latinoamericana em Ciências da Saúde"/Latin American Literature in Life Sciences [LILACS]: http://lilacs.bvsalud.org/, was done. Studies with incomplete methodology and design were excluded.

Results: Bananas from different species are a good source of carbohydrates, dietary fiber, proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, potassium, carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamin C and E, phytosterols, gallocatechin, catechin, and other polyphenols. Some of these compounds play trigger important biological roles as antioxidants or anti-atherosclerotic and cardiovascular protective substances. This review summarizes and explains thirteen protective biological mechanisms of banana bioactive compounds and banana products.

Conclusion: Including banana and its products in dietary menus, in food products and nutraceuticals should improve cardiovascular health of the populations.