Okra ( L.) As a Potential Functional Food Source of Mucilage and Bioactive Compounds with Technological Applications and Health Benefits

Overview

Journal Plants (Basel)

Date 2021 Aug 28

PMID 34451728

Citations 16

Authors

Thamires Lacerda Dantas

Flavia Carolina Alonso Buriti

Eliane Rolim Florentino

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

has fruit popularly known as okra and belongs to the family. It is commonly used in cooking but also in traditional medicine in the treatment of worms, dysentery, inflammation, and also irritation of the stomach, intestines, and kidneys, as it is a potential functional food. Its mucilage is a highly viscous polysaccharide that is mostly composed of monosaccharides D-galactose, L-rhamnose, and galacturonic acid, as well as proteins and minerals. The functional properties of okra mucilage have been widely studied, mainly for its potential antidiabetic activity; thus, its use as adjuvant or nutraceutical therapy for diabetes is very promising. Due to its rheological properties, it is a potential resource for pharmaceutical and food applications. Okra mucilage can be extracted by several methods, which can directly influence its physicochemical characteristics and biological activity. Features such as low cost, non-toxicity, biocompatibility, and high availability in nature arouse the interest of researchers for the study of okra mucilage. The survey of research on the applications of okra mucilage highlights the importance of using this promising source of bioactive compounds with interesting technological properties. The potential of okra as a functional food, the properties of okra mucilage, and its technological applications are discussed in this review.

Citing Articles

Okra juice used for rapid wound healing through its bioadhesive and antioxidant capabilities.

Zhang B, Li Y, Wu K, Wei L, Chen Y, Zhang Y Mater Today Bio. 2025; 31:101495.

PMID: 39896277 PMC: 11787035. DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2025.101495.

An Overview of the Current Scientific Evidence on the Biological Properties of (L.) Moench (Okra).

Kwok C, Ng Y, Chan H, Chan S Foods. 2025; 14(2).

PMID: 39856844 PMC: 11764652. DOI: 10.3390/foods14020177.

Effect of L. (Okra) on Dyslipidemia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Studies.

Mokgalaboni K, Phoswa W, Mokgalabone T, Dlamini S, Ndhlala A, Modjadji P Int J Mol Sci. 2024; 25(20).

PMID: 39456704 PMC: 11507881. DOI: 10.3390/ijms252010922.

Okra ( L.) Flour Integration in Wheat-Based Sourdough: Effect on Nutritional and Technological Quality of Bread.

Valerio F, Di Biase M, Cifarelli V, Lonigro S, Maalej A, Plazzotta S Foods. 2024; 13(20).

PMID: 39456300 PMC: 11507399. DOI: 10.3390/foods13203238.

3D Printing of Naturally Derived Adhesive Hemostatic Sponge.

Zhou M, Yuan T, Shang L Research (Wash D C). 2024; 7:0446.

PMID: 39119591 PMC: 11309851. DOI: 10.34133/research.0446.

References

Zhang W, Xiang Q, Zhao J, Mao G, Feng W, Chen Y . Purification, structural elucidation and physicochemical properties of a polysaccharide from Abelmoschus esculentus L (okra) flowers. Int J Biol Macromol. 2020; 155:740-750. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.03.235. View

Zhu X, Xu R, Wang H, Chen J, Tu Z . Structural Properties, Bioactivities, and Applications of Polysaccharides from Okra [ (L.) Moench]: A Review. J Agric Food Chem. 2020; . DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c04475. View

Ben Slima S, Ktari N, Trabelsi I, Moussa H, Makni I, Ben Salah R . Purification, characterization and antioxidant properties of a novel polysaccharide extracted from Sorghum bicolor (L.) seeds in sausage. Int J Biol Macromol. 2017; 106:168-178. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.08.010. View

Adelakun O, Oyelade O, Ade-Omowaye B, Adeyemi I, van de Venter M . Chemical composition and the antioxidative properties of Nigerian Okra Seed (Abelmoschus esculentus Moench) Flour. Food Chem Toxicol. 2009; 47(6):1123-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2009.01.036. View

Choudhary P, Pawar H . Recently Investigated Natural Gums and Mucilages as Pharmaceutical Excipients: An Overview. J Pharm (Cairo). 2015; 2014:204849. PMC: 4590793. DOI: 10.1155/2014/204849. View

Olawuyi I, Lee W . Structural characterization, functional properties and antioxidant activities of polysaccharide extract obtained from okra leaves (Abelmoschus esculentus). Food Chem. 2021; 354:129437. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129437. View

Rao M, Babrekar L, Kharpude V, Chaudhari J . Synthesis and characterization of psyllium seed mucilage grafted with N,N-methylene bisacrylamide. Int J Biol Macromol. 2017; 103:338-346. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.05.031. View

Sinha P, Ubaidulla U, Nayak A . Okra (Hibiscus esculentus) gum-alginate blend mucoadhesive beads for controlled glibenclamide release. Int J Biol Macromol. 2014; 72:1069-75. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2014.10.002. View

Sharma N, Sharma A, Nishad D, Khanna K, Sharma B, Kakkar D . Development and Gamma Scintigraphy Study of Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) Polysaccharide-Based Colon Tablet. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2018; 19(6):2564-2571. DOI: 10.1208/s12249-018-1066-4. View

10.

Palanisamy S, Vinosha M, Marudhupandi T, Rajasekar P, Prabhu N . In vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activity of sulfated polysaccharides isolated from Spatoglossum asperum. Carbohydr Polym. 2017; 170:296-304. DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.04.085. View

11.

Zaharuddin N, Noordin M, Kadivar A . The use of Hibiscus esculentus (Okra) gum in sustaining the release of propranolol hydrochloride in a solid oral dosage form. Biomed Res Int. 2014; 2014:735891. PMC: 3942280. DOI: 10.1155/2014/735891. View

12.

Elkhalifa A, Alshammari E, Adnan M, Alcantara J, Awadelkareem A, Eltoum N . Okra () as a Potential Dietary Medicine with Nutraceutical Importance for Sustainable Health Applications. Molecules. 2021; 26(3). PMC: 7865958. DOI: 10.3390/molecules26030696. View

13.

Mohammadi H, Kamkar A, Misaghi A . Nanocomposite films based on CMC, okra mucilage and ZnO nanoparticles: Physico mechanical and antibacterial properties. Carbohydr Polym. 2017; 181:351-357. DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.10.045. View

14.

Aj R, Hn Y, Sb S . Natural gums as sustained release carriers: development of gastroretentive drug delivery system of ziprasidone HCl. Daru. 2013; 20(1):58. PMC: 3556007. DOI: 10.1186/2008-2231-20-58. View

15.

Nie X, Li H, Du G, Lin S, Hu R, Li H . Structural characteristics, rheological properties, and biological activities of polysaccharides from different cultivars of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) collected in China. Int J Biol Macromol. 2019; 139:459-467. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.08.016. View

16.

Durazzo A, Lucarini M, Novellino E, Souto E, Daliu P, Santini A . Abelmoschus esculentus (L.): Bioactive Components' Beneficial Properties-Focused on Antidiabetic Role-For Sustainable Health Applications. Molecules. 2018; 24(1). PMC: 6337517. DOI: 10.3390/molecules24010038. View

17.

Islam M . Phytochemical information and pharmacological activities of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus): A literature-based review. Phytother Res. 2018; 33(1):72-80. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6212. View

18.

Daliu P, Annunziata G, Tenore G, Santini A . Abscisic acid identification in Okra, L. (Moench): perspective nutraceutical use for the treatment of diabetes. Nat Prod Res. 2019; 34(1):3-9. DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2019.1637874. View

19.

Liao Z, Zhang J, Wang J, Yan T, Xu F, Wu B . The anti-nephritic activity of a polysaccharide from okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) via modulation of AMPK-Sirt1-PGC-1α signaling axis mediated anti-oxidative in type 2 diabetes model mice. Int J Biol Macromol. 2019; 140:568-576. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.08.149. View

20.

Jiang Y, Zi W, Pei Z, Liu S . Characterization of polysaccharides and their antioxidant properties from . Saudi Pharm J. 2018; 26(5):656-664. PMC: 6035323. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2018.02.026. View