Metabolite Profile and Bioactivity of Musa X Paradisiaca L. Flower Extracts

The flower extracts of two cultivated varieties of Musa X paradisiaca viz. Kanthali and Kancha Kela were assayed against the enzymes α‐amylase, α‐glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase, β‐glucuronidase and Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme, which are related to different diseased states like diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, hepatic disorder and cardiovascular diseases, respectively. The extracts inhibited all the enzymes except α‐amylase by Musa X paradisiaca cv. Kanthali. Significantly high activities were observed in both the cultivated varieties for inhibiting the enzymes β‐glucuronidase and Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme with respect to the known inhibitors of such enzymes silymarin and Lisinopril, respectively. The chemical constituents present in the methanol extracts were profiled following GC‐MS based metabolomics approach. Eleven organic acids, seven sugars and sugar alcohols, six fatty acids, three phenols, two amino acids and a sterol could be identified. Practical Applications The male flowers of Musa X paradisiaca are cooked as vegetable in South‐East Asia. The flowers are also useful in diabetes. Enzyme inhibitors have properties to prevent or control different noninfectious diseases. So, the flower extracts of two varieties of the plant were assayed for their activities against the glycosidases, acetylcholinesterase, β‐glucuronidase and Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme. The activities of the flower extracts against the enzymes suggest that they may have beneficial effects in controlling diseases.