Nutritional status of banana (Musa acuminata) peels of variety-grand naine

Proximate analysis of banana (Musa acuminata) peels of variety Grand Naine showed the presence of (%) moisture (23.34), ash (13.62), crude fat (3.67), crude protein (1.14) crude fiber (22.21) and total soluble sugar (12.50). Mineral analysis of peels revealed the presence of K, Ca, P, Mg, Fe etc. Various banana peel extracts were prepared by Soxhlet extraction method using petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, ethanol and methanol as solvents. Phytochemical analysis of extracts revealed the presence of phenols, tannins, steroids and terpenoids having different pharmacological properties. The total phenolic content of various extracts ranged from 17.82 to 35.82 mg GAE/g of extracts. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of ethanolic extract showed the presence of cycloeucalenol acetate (61.71%) as major compound. Therefore, banana peels generally regarded as waste can be used as good dietary source of various nutrients and can be used to cure diseases caused due to their defficiency.