Millets National Media Portal
Millets National Media Portal
Millets have been recognized as medicinal foods for centuries across Asian, African, and indigenous American traditions — a status increasingly validated by modern pharmacological research. A 2023 review in Cureus titled 'Millets: A Nutritional Powerhouse With Anti-Cancer Potential' cited millets' multi-system medicinal properties, noting their rich content of tannins, polyphenols, phytosterols, anthocyanins, and phenolic acids as the biochemical basis for their therapeutic value.
Medicinal properties and the compounds responsible:
Tannins and polyphenols: Anti-oxidative, anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties; condensed tannins in finger millet show higher antioxidant potency than barley.
Phytosterols: Reduce intestinal cholesterol absorption, supporting cardiovascular health and lowering LDL cholesterol levels.
Anthocyanins: Pigment compounds in colored sorghum varieties with anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and neuroprotective properties.
3-Deoxyanthocyanidins (sorghum-exclusive): Unique bioactive compounds with potent anticancer and antimicrobial activity not found in any other cereal.
Dietary fiber (ragi bifunctional inhibitor — RBI): Finger millet seeds contain a bifunctional inhibitor that simultaneously inhibits trypsin and α-amylase — relevant for diabetes management and digestive health.
Lecithin (proso millet): A beneficial phospholipid supporting neural health, liver function, and cholesterol metabolism.
Treatment of metabolic diseases: Millets are utilized in traditional and modern medicine for prevention and management of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis, and anemia.
Ethnomedicinal uses: Different millet varieties are prescribed in Ayurvedic, Chinese, and African traditional medicine for conditions ranging from blood disorders and liver injury to respiratory ailments and skin conditions.
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