Abstract

Bambara nut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) is a vegetable crop that is easy to cultivate which has been underutilized over time. It is referred to as nutraceuticals due to its nutritional and medicinal values. The crop is tolerant to drought. Accordingly, it is important to explore the nutraceutical imp0rtance of this underutilized and neglected crop to safe guard and encourage its production for food as medicinal and nutritional source, particularly among the poor and rural societies in Africa and also to discuss its application and potentials in the synthesis of nanoparticles. This review specifically looked into the usefulness of banbara nut. The effect against microbes were also taken into consideration and studied to evaluate its nutraceutical advantages. Antimicrobial activities of banbara nut extracts have been observed in clinical settings against a variety of bacteria, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger which was found to also possesses antioxidant properties. Banbara nut possess high bioactive compounds which include phenols and flavonoids that possess special chemical ability that can both effectively serve as capping and reducing agents on nanoparticles. Green synthesized zinc and silver oxide nanoparticles utilizing the post-harvest leaves of banbara nut and their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial potentials have been reviewed. Likewise, the effect of nano-structured shell of bambara nut as filler have also been discussed. The potential applications of banbara nut as nutraceuticals and in green synthesis of nanoparticles are reviewed in this paper.