A review on nutritional, phytochemical, and medicinal properties of underexploited fruit crops

Numerous wild fruit species such as Bael, Chironji, Ber, Karonda, Tamarind, Wood Apple, Jamun, and Amla first appeared on the Indian subcontinent. Although, most of them have adapted to India's climate, they are still considered minor crops. As there are many minor horticultural fruit crops in tropical areas like Amla, Jamun, Ber, Bael, Fig, and Jackfruit, but they lack in utilization due to a lack of awareness of the importance of minor fruit crops. Minor fruit crops have more medicinal and nutritional importance compared to major fruit crops. Numerous chemical compounds, including quinolizidine, alkaloids, stilbenes, tannins, saponins, coumarin, flavonoids, triterpenoids, triterpenes, steroids, taraxerone, taraxerol, glycosides and cryptoxanthin are present in these minor fruits. Multiple biological actions are displayed by these compounds such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, antidiabetic, antipyretic, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, and anticancerous properties. The two most common plant parts used to make medications are fruits and leaves (52% and 22%, respectively). This review paper explains the nutritional and medicinal importance of minor fruit crops.