Two promising under-utilized grains: A Review

Abstract

<span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;color:black" lang="EN-US">Underutilized grains are obtained from those plant species whose ability to safeguard food security, revenue generation, better human health and ecological sustainability have been under-exploited. There is a dire need to utilize these underutilized grains of plant species as they can contribute appreciably towards the improvement in overall human nourishment, stable environmental services, fighting hunger and offering medicinal and income generation options. In this review, two grains, viz. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-font-kerning:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">gorgon nut</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">job’s tears</i> have been discussed. Both of these grains possess antifungal, antibacterial and antioxidant activity and have high phytochemical content. Growth requirements of these grains are specific and distinct and their high nutritional content indicates their potential application as nutraceutical. The utilization of these species is limited because there is a lack of awareness, relevant capacity within the research community and the land they are grown on is increasingly under global and local pressures. Underutilized species have not attracted enough attention of policy makers because they cannot compete with major commodity crops, commanding larger economic interests. Timely investment and research into these species can save food for the next generations arriving on an already ailing earth.

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