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Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench

Summary
Okra belonging to the family of Malvaceae is commonly known as Bhindi. It is rich in vitamins C and K1. Usually immature fruits of okra are consumed as vegetables and are great for regulating blood sugar level. Quercetin, Quercetin-3-O-gentiobiose and Isoquercitrin are the bioactive compounds present in it. It reduces high blood cholesterol and thereby decreases the chance of heart disease. A water-soluble polysaccharide (OFPS11) found in okra flowers enhanced the phagocytic ability and induced the elevation of Nitric Oxide (NO) production, TNF-α and IL-1β secretion of RAW264.7 cells. Further, RAW264.7 cells while pretreated with OFPS11 decreased the proliferation of HepG-2 cells. OFPS11 exhibited antitumor activity possibly activating macrophage via nuclear NF-κB pathway.

Mode of Consumption : Sauteed, fried, boiled and pickled
Plant Details Agro-climatic Zone Vernacular Names Pictures
Scientific Name: Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench
Family: Malvaceae Juss.
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malvales
Genus: Abelmoschus Medik.
Fruiting Season: March to August
Parts: Fruit, Leaves
  • The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The North-Eastern Hill Region
  • The Middle Ganga Plain Region
  • The Western Rajasthan Region
  • The Western Coastal Region
  • The Gujarat Region
  • The Satluj-Yamuna Plain Region
  • North-Western Mountain Region
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Western Coastal Region
  • The Aravali-Malwa Upland
  • The Maharashtra Plateau Region & The Western Coastal Region
  • The South-Eastern Plateau Region & The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Western Rajasthan Region & The Aravali-Malwa Upland
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Upper Ganga Plain Region & The Middle Ganga Plain Region
  • The Upper Ganga Plain Region
  • The Lower Ganga Plain Region
 Andhra Pradesh : Benda
Arunachal Pradesh : Bhindi
Assam : Bhendi
Bihar : Bhindi
Chhattisgarh : Bhindi
Goa : Bhindi
Gujarat : Bhindi
Haryana : Bhindi
Himachal Pradesh : Bhindi
Karnataka : Vendakkai
Kerala : Vendakka
Madhya Pradesh : Bhindi
Maharashtra : Ram-turai
Manipur : Belendri
Punjab : Bhindi
Rajasthan : Bhindi
Tamil Nadu : Ventai
Uttar Pradesh : Bhindi
Uttarakhand : Bhindi
West Bengal : Dhenras

Sliced Fruit


Fruit bearing plant


Fruit
Compound/Extract Activity Mode of Action Marker/References
A. esculentus lectin (AEL)Anti-tumor The expression of pro-apoptotic caspase3, caspase-9, and p21 genes was increased along with increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio Caspase3, caspase-9, and p21 genes, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio [1]
PolysaccharideAnti-tumorWater-soluble polysaccharide enhanced the phagocytic ability and induced the elevation of NO production, TNF-α and IL-1β secretion of RAW264.7 cells.NO, TNF-α and IL-1β [6]
Fruit powderImmunoboostingDried okra fruit powder supplementation enhances the immune system by increasing the lysozymes and IgM values.IgM[9]
PolysaccharideImmunomodulatoryPolysaccharides increased cell proliferation, NO production, iNOS expression, and TNF-α, IFN-ϒ, and IL-10 secretion in RAW264.7 cells.NO, iNOS, TNF-α, IFN-ϒ and IL-10[10]
Crude polysaccharideImmunostimulatoryCrude polysaccharides from okra pods increased the serum level of IFN-γ.IFN-γ[11]
Seed oilAnti-inflammatory, AntioxidantOkra seed oil could counteract the injury induced by aspirin via decreasing TNF-α and IL-6, increasing IL-1O in serum, decreasing NO and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) in stomach.TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1O, NO, MPO and SOD[12]
Water soluble polysaccharideAnti-tumorWater-soluble polysaccharide of okra exerts antitumor activity by stimulating macrophage activities through nuclear NF-κB pathway.NF-κB[17]
Crude okra polysaccharideImmunomodulatory Increased RAW264.7 cell proliferation, nitric oxide (NO) production, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ,and interleukin (IL)-10 secretionNO, iNOS, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10[10]
Major Class Metabolites (Content of bioactives: mg/100g Fresh Weight)
Carotenoidβ- Carotene: 29.25 mg/100g[13]
FlavonoidIsoquercitrin: , Quercetin: 2.73 mg/100g, Quercetin-3-O-gentiobiose: [15]
Phenolic acidProtocatechuic acid : 1.27 mg/100g[4]
Effect Observation DOI
In vitro studies Increase in the count of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium longum strains DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2021.106779
In vitro studies Enhanced production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs)DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2021.106779
In vitro studies Increase in the count of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus acidophilousDOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116183
In vitro studies Enhanced production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs)DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116183
In vitro studies Increase in the count of Bacteroides, Phascolarctobacterium, Megasphaera and DesulfovibrioDOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2020.106577
In vitro studies Increased production of acetic and propionic acidsDOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2020.106577
Disease Formulation Reference Author TKDL
Information from Wealth of India Reference
  • A mucilaginous preparation from the fruits has found application as a plasma replacement or blood volume expander.
  • Immature pods are emollient, demulcent and diuretic and are employed in the form of a decoction in catarrhal affections, ardour urinae, dysuria, dysentery and gonorrhoea.
  • Fatty fractions of the fresh watery extract of the seeds causes destruction of cancerous cell growth in vitro.
 CSIR(1985).The Wealth of India, Raw materials,Revised edition, Vol-V (A), P.-19, New Delhi, India
4.2, 04.2.1, 04.2.1.1, 04.2.1.3, 04.2.2.3, 04.2.2.5, 04.2.2.6, 04.2.2.8
    CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat-6, Assam, India
    CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur-61,Himachal Pradesh, India