An Overview of the Current Scientific Evidence on the Biological Properties of <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench (Okra)
<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench, commonly known as okra or lady’s finger, is an annual flowering plant belonging to the <i>Malvaceae</i> family. Okra is a native plant in Africa as well as a traditional medicine in Africa and India for treating different diseases an...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Carsten Tsun-Ka Kwok Yam-Fung Ng Hei-Tung Lydia Chan Shun-Wan Chan |
| author_facet | Carsten Tsun-Ka Kwok Yam-Fung Ng Hei-Tung Lydia Chan Shun-Wan Chan |
| author_sort | Carsten Tsun-Ka Kwok |
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| description | <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench, commonly known as okra or lady’s finger, is an annual flowering plant belonging to the <i>Malvaceae</i> family. Okra is a native plant in Africa as well as a traditional medicine in Africa and India for treating different diseases and conditions. Today, okra is widely consumed as a vegetable and is increasingly recognized as a superfood due to its rich nutritional profile and potential pharmacological benefits. Research indicates that okra exhibits a range of biological activities, including antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antifatigue, vasoprotective, hepatoprotective, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. Despite its promising therapeutic potential, research on the active compounds in okra and evaluating efficacy in clinical settings remains limited. This review aims to consolidate existing scientific knowledge on the biological and pharmacological properties of okra, thereby encouraging further investigation into its health benefits. Ultimately, this could pave the way for the development of functional foods or health supplements that leverage okra as a key ingredient to prevent chronic diseases and enhance overall health outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-66a75ff57e3148edb15b2be9d897688f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj-art-66a75ff57e3148edb15b2be9d897688f2025-01-24T13:32:45ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-01-0114217710.3390/foods14020177An Overview of the Current Scientific Evidence on the Biological Properties of <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench (Okra)Carsten Tsun-Ka Kwok0Yam-Fung Ng1Hei-Tung Lydia Chan2Shun-Wan Chan3Department of Food and Health Science, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaDepartment of Food and Health Science, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaDepartment of Food and Health Science, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaDepartment of Food and Health Science, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench, commonly known as okra or lady’s finger, is an annual flowering plant belonging to the <i>Malvaceae</i> family. Okra is a native plant in Africa as well as a traditional medicine in Africa and India for treating different diseases and conditions. Today, okra is widely consumed as a vegetable and is increasingly recognized as a superfood due to its rich nutritional profile and potential pharmacological benefits. Research indicates that okra exhibits a range of biological activities, including antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antifatigue, vasoprotective, hepatoprotective, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. Despite its promising therapeutic potential, research on the active compounds in okra and evaluating efficacy in clinical settings remains limited. This review aims to consolidate existing scientific knowledge on the biological and pharmacological properties of okra, thereby encouraging further investigation into its health benefits. Ultimately, this could pave the way for the development of functional foods or health supplements that leverage okra as a key ingredient to prevent chronic diseases and enhance overall health outcomes.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/2/177<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moenchokrapharmacologyantihyperlipidemicantidiabeticantifatigue |
| spellingShingle | Carsten Tsun-Ka Kwok Yam-Fung Ng Hei-Tung Lydia Chan Shun-Wan Chan An Overview of the Current Scientific Evidence on the Biological Properties of <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench (Okra) Foods <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench okra pharmacology antihyperlipidemic antidiabetic antifatigue |
| title | An Overview of the Current Scientific Evidence on the Biological Properties of <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench (Okra) |
| title_full | An Overview of the Current Scientific Evidence on the Biological Properties of <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench (Okra) |
| title_fullStr | An Overview of the Current Scientific Evidence on the Biological Properties of <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench (Okra) |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Overview of the Current Scientific Evidence on the Biological Properties of <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench (Okra) |
| title_short | An Overview of the Current Scientific Evidence on the Biological Properties of <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench (Okra) |
| title_sort | overview of the current scientific evidence on the biological properties of i abelmoschus esculentus i l moench okra |
| topic | <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench okra pharmacology antihyperlipidemic antidiabetic antifatigue |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/2/177 |
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