A review on finger millet properties, processing, health benefits, and applications

Abstract

The review aims to discuss about the Finger millet which has numerous health promoting properties. Eleusine coracana is a major crop of Poaceae family and a great source of various types of macronutrients and micronutrients. The review has written by taking references from number of review and research articles. These articles have been collected from different databases. The nutrient content of finger millet makes it healthy and functional food and generally eaten as infant food, beverages, fermented foods, and bakery products. It is rich in protein, dietary fibre, amino acids, carbohydrate minerals, micro and macro nutrients etc. It can give several health and therapeutic advantages, such as diabetes prevention, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-diarrheal, and antioxidant capacity, phytochemical activity, antimicrobial, enzyme inhibitory properties due to its high dietary nutritious content. In urban areas the consumption of finger millet is limited as compare to rural areas as it is dark brown in colour which is not drool worthy so the concept of processing of this particular crop came for a save. This review may be useful for the further study and evaluation of nutrient contents and health benefits; also, the processing and application of the Finger millet.