Dried banana peels contain 6–9% protein and 20–30% fiber. Green plantain peels contain 40% starch that is transformed into sugars after ripening. Banana peel is appreciated for its bioactive components, particularly the phenolic compounds. The major phenolic compounds found in the banana peel are grouped as flavonols, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavan-3-ols, and catecholamines.
In traditional medicine, banana peels have been reported to be useful against cancer and heart disease since these peels are rich in gallocatechin, and important antioxidant involved in the prevention of these diseases.
The banana peel, which is the waste from banana processing, is also term as banana waste. Banana peels are used as supplementary feed for livestock in their cultivation areas. Its massive by-products are an excellent source of high value raw materials for other industries by recycling agricultural waste.
Banana peels can be utilized for the production of ligninolytic enzymes. Banana skin has been used as a support-substrate for the production of extracellular laccase by the white-rot fungus Trametes pubescens.
It was reported that alcohol can be produced from banana peels by subjecting the material to saccharification treatment using either sulfuric acid, steam under pressure or cellulase. The fermentation was carried out with Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. ellipsoideus.
For certain people, banana peel can be eaten, usually grated fried and mixed with black eyed peas. The green banana peel contains about 50-100 ug/g fresh weight of chlorophyll, 5-7 ug/g fresh weight of xanthophyll and 1,5-3.5 ug/g fresh weight of carotene.
Banana peels also known for their antifungal and antibiotic propertied as well as being loaded with vitamin and minerals.
During ripening, chlorophylls lost, and total yellow pigment remains approximately constant. Chlorophylls activity in banana peels increases sharply at the onset of the climacteric rises to a peak which coincides with the climacteric peak, and then falls to near zero in the post climacteric period.
Banana peel: Properties and applications
