Green banana (Musa spp.) in obesity management: nutritional potential, food product formulation and ADMET-guided drug discovery from byproduct

Abstract

Obesity is a growing global health concern associated with metabolic disorders and chronic diseases. Functional foods rich in bioactive compounds offer promising avenues for obesity prevention and management. To explore the potential of green banana and its byproducts in food formulation and drug discovery for obesity management, focusing on nutritional properties, pathophysiological relevance, and in silico ADMET profiling of quercetin, a key phytoconstituent of Green Banana. This review-based original research compiles recent evidence on the physicochemical characteristics of green banana and investigates the drug-likeness of quercetin through ADMET profiling. Scientific literature was reviewed to assess the compositional attributes, health benefits, and functional uses of green banana. ADMET profiling of quercetin was performed using SwissADME for drug discovery insights. Descriptive statistics and computational tools were used to evaluate ADMET parameters. Green banana is rich in resistant starch, dietary fiber, and phenolic compounds, contributing to satiety, improved lipid profiles, and gut health. Quercetin exhibited high gastrointestinal absorption, compliance with major drug-likeness rules, moderate bioavailability (0.55), and inhibition of CYP1A2, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4 enzymes, with PAINS alerts indicating catechol moiety interference. Green banana presents a valuable resource for functional food development and nutraceutical exploration in obesity management. Quercetin, despite some pharmacokinetic limitations, shows promise as a lead compound, warranting further investigation in clinical and formulation studies.