Bamboo leaves: sustainable feedstock in pharmaceuticals, food, and agricultural sector

ABSTRACT Bamboo is regarded as one of the essential non-timber forest goods globally. Bamboo comes under the category of rapidly shooting up plants. It has a fast-growing rate. Bamboo and its parts are well-known for their multiple industrial uses, but a few decades of research have recognized their importance in various fields of science. The main aim of our study is on bamboo leaves due to their readily availabilty with the cost-effectiveness and act as sustainable feedstock in the pharmaceutical, food, and agriculture sectors. Furthermore, bamboo leaves have inherent potential sources like phytochemicals, polyphenols, nano-particles, etc. These bioactive components from the bamboo leaves play several roles as anti-oxidants, anti-carcinogens, anti-angiogenesis, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, etc., in various scientific fields. Various bamboo species like Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis, Phyllostachys aurea, Bambusa arundinaceae, Dendrocalamus strictus(Roxb.), Phyllostachys edulis, Phyllostachys heterocycla cv. Pubescens, Phyllostachys pubescens. Gramineae etc. have been successfully used as a source for Tricin, silver nanoparticles etc. Therefore, bamboo leaves exhibit different combinations of characters. Although attention to studying bamboo leaves has increased, synergistic research is still limited. This shows that bamboo leaves and their beneficial properties can be enhanced for more innovative discoveries in the future. This paper gives an overview of the importance of bamboo leaves in the pharmaceutical, food, and agriculture sectors. Highlights Bamboo is regarded as a potential bioresource and has many bioactive components. The bioactive components such as anti-oxidants, anti-carcinogens, anti-angiogenesis, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, etc. can be utilized effectively from bamboo leaves Bamboo leaves exhibit different combinations of characteristics and can be utilized in pharmaceutical, food, and agriculture sectors. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT