POTENTIAL IMPORTANCE OF JUGLANS REGIA LINN

NUTRITIONAL PROFILE AND HEALTH BENEFITS

Abstract

Food containing good amount of nutritional value is the most important parameter for maintaining human health and complete physical well-being. Number of plants are available with good source of vitamins and minerals and having other nutritional composition. Juglans regia Linn. (Family-Juglandaceae), commonly known as walnut has substantial benefits as dietary supplement. It possesses remarkable edible and nutritive values, with ease of processing and food manufacturing. It is widely spread and cultivated in various parts of world because of its valuable kernels. Dietician and other health workers of developing countries should give due attention in promoting the research work and projects for studying the medicinal importance, processing of walnut fruit and shell, manufacturing, improvement in nutritive values and potential health benefits of the walnut fruit to promote their utilization as food in respective countries. Many researchers have proved the therapeutic potential of the Juglans regia. It is one of the most important non-timber forest products. The nutritional importance of walnut is related to its seed or kernel. The aim of the present review is to provide the benefits of the walnut with respect to its nutritional profile and therapeutic as well as pharmacological importance as an antioxidant, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antihypertensive and hepatoprotective activity.