EDIBLE SEEDS MEDICINAL VALUE, THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES-A REVIEW

India has a rich source of tropical fruits containing edible seeds such as chia, hemp, sesame, pumkin, sunflower, mustard, nigella, guava, papaya, mangosteen, honeydew, pomegranate, fennel, fenugreek, cumin, sweet orange, cucumber, jackfruit, mango, melons, avocado and many more. These products such as the seed kernel, which constitutes about 10–35% of the weight, offer high nutritional value and therapeutic applications. This article explores the nutritional, medicinal, therapeutic applications, functional properties and bioactive constituents of the seeds of some fruits, which are analyzed for their functions and applications as sources of food value and bioactive phytochemical constituents. The seeds contain essential bioactive components such as alkaloids, carotenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, terpenoids, tannins, steroids and polyphenolic compounds and that exhibit excellent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties, anticancer, anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-obesity, neurological disorders, cardiovascular, skin diseases and chronic diseases. They have remarkable physicochemical properties and a high content of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. However extensive research activities can be carried out to determine the efficacy of the nutritional and bioactive components in different seed types, the bioavailability and potency. Extensive research with the seed parts can be investigated to identify the medicinal and functional potentials of these fruit seeds. This review gives an overview on the therapeutic applications and functional properties of seeds present in fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants. The medicinal and nutritional value, phytochemical composition, bioactive phytoconstituents, therapeutic activity, therapeutic applications and uses, proximate analysis, functional properties, analytical methods, spectroscopic methods and human clinical trials of some edible seeds are discussed in this review.