Author(s): Ketki Rode* , Dnyaneshwar Khodse, Ajay Shinde, Shweta Jadhav, Asiyanujahat Shaikh, Preeti Sharma, Priyanka Pingat, Sonia Sharma, Vaibhav Samudre
The term Taro is used to refer Colocasia esculenta belonging to aroid family (Aracaceae). Nutritionally, Taro contains more than twice the carbohydrate content of potatoes, minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium and magnesium, Vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. The reported activities of Taro include anti-diabetic, antioxidant, fungicide, anti-lipidemic, anti-cancer anti-anaemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, hepatoprotective and anti-viral properties. Also, it is used in nutritional deficiency and malnutrition. Taro not only provides nutritional values but also responsible to manage various conditions like diabetes and increased lipid profile. Inspite of possessing these good properties, Taro cannot be used for nutrition as it also possess Anti-Nutritional Factors (ANF) like mucilage, oxalic acid, tannis, cyanides, lectins, alpha-amylase inhibitors and protease inhibitors. Therefore, methods to reduce the level of ANF can be used and the ANFs can be quantitively estimated which gives a challenge to the researchers to serve a better nutritional supplement to the patients in need. If validated methods to remove ANFs are found, then Taro can serve as a marvelous herb to treat many abnormalities.
