Environment-Omics-Disease Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
J Food Biochem. 2019 Jul;43(7):e12859. doi: 10.1111/jfbc.12859. Epub 2019 Apr 14.
The available cultivable plant-based food resources in developing tropical countries are inadequate to supply proteins for both human and animals. Such limition of available plant food sources are due to shrinking of agricultural land, rapid urbanization, climate change, and tough competition between food and feed industries for existing food and feed crops. However, the cheapest food materials are those that are derived from plant sources which although they occur in abundance in nature, are still underutilized. At this juncture, identification, evaluation, and introduction of underexploited millet crops, including crops of tribal utility which are generally rich in protein is one of the long-term viable solutions for a sustainable supply of food and feed materials. In view of the above, the present review endeavors to highlight the nutritional and functional potential of underexploited millet crops. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Millets are an important food crop at a global level with a significant economic impact on developing countries. Millets have advantageous characteristics as they are drought and pest-resistance grains. Millets are considered as high-energy yielding nourishing foods which help in addressing malnutrition. Millet-based foods are considered as potential prebiotic and probiotics with prospective health benefits. Grains of these millet species are widely consumed as a source of traditional medicines and important food to preserve health.
发展中国家可耕种的植物性食物资源不足以供应人类和动物所需的蛋白质。造成这种可利用植物性食物来源有限的原因是农业用地的减少、快速的城市化、气候变化以及食品和饲料行业之间对现有粮食和饲料作物的激烈竞争。然而，最便宜的食物材料来自植物来源，尽管它们在自然界中大量存在，但仍未得到充分利用。在这一时刻，确定、评估和引进利用不足的小米作物，包括通常富含蛋白质的部落利用作物，是可持续供应食物和饲料材料的长期可行解决方案之一。有鉴于此，本综述旨在强调利用不足的小米作物的营养和功能潜力。实际应用：小米在全球范围内是一种重要的粮食作物，对发展中国家具有重大的经济影响。小米具有有利的特点，因为它们是耐旱和抗虫害的谷物。小米被认为是高能量的营养食品，有助于解决营养不良问题。小米食品被认为是潜在的益生元和益生菌，具有潜在的健康益处。这些小米物种的谷物被广泛用作传统药物的来源和保持健康的重要食物。
