International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2017, Volume : 5, Issue : 4
First page : (1890) Last page : (1907)
Article doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.5197

Nutritional and Pharmaceutical Potentials of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) Plant and Its Biotic Stresses -An Overview

Lokesh*
Entomology Department, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125001, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: lok.hau@gmail.com
Received: 12.07.2017  |  Revised: 23.07.2017   |  Accepted: 24.07.2017  

 ABSTRACT

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), a traditional vegetable crop in Asia and Africa has huge socio-economic potential. It originated from Ethiopia and then spread, worldover covering tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions. Okra belongs to Malvaceae family and is a good source of carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, enzymes, and total minerals. It is used in medicines for curing ulcers, chronic dysentery and genito-urinary disorders. It provides relief from hemorrhoids and finds applications in plasma replacement and as blood volume expander.  However, okra has been considered a minor crop and less attention has been paid to its improvement in the international research program. This paper presents an overview of Okra’s taxonomy, geographic origin and distribution, morphology, biochemical, nutritional and pharmaceutical potentials. At the end, biotic and abiotic stresses in Okra have also been discussed.  

Key words: Malvaceae, Tropical, Hemorrhoids, Morphology, Nutritional Potential.

Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782

Cite this article: Lokesh, Nutritional and Pharmaceutical Potentials of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) Plant and Its Biotic Stresses -An Overview, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.5(4): 1890-1907 (2017). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.5197