Nutritional Advantages and Opportunities for Its Processing of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L.): A Comprehensive Review (2024)

Simran

Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab-144002, India.

Sahil Chaudhary

Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab-144002, India.

Harshal Avinashe *

Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab-144002, India.

Nidhi Dubey

Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab-144002, India.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Abstract

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) stands out as a highly nutritious yet underutilized grain among the millets. Despite its substantial health benefits, finger millet remains one of the least consumed foods globally. With the world's population growing at an unprecedented rate, addressing food security and malnutrition is a critical challenge. UNICEF reports indicate that nearly 2 billion people suffer from hidden hunger, and one in five children under five years old experience stunted growth due to malnutrition. Finger millet offers a promising solution to these issues due to its rich nutritional profile, which surpasses that of many common cereals. This review comprehensively examines the nutritional advantages of finger millet, highlighting its high content of calcium, iron, dietary fiber, and essential amino acids. Additionally, finger millet is a rich source of antioxidants and has a low glycemic index, making it beneficial for managing diabetes and other metabolic disorders. The review also explores various opportunities for processing finger millet to enhance its appeal and consumption. Processing techniques such as malting, fermentation, and extrusion can improve the bioavailability of nutrients and create diverse, palatable food products. By leveraging modern processing technologies, finger millet can be transformed into a staple food that addresses nutritional deficiencies and contributes to global food security. This review aims to underscore the importance of finger millet in combating malnutrition and promoting sustainable food systems. Increased awareness and research into finger millet's nutritional benefits and processing opportunities can pave the way for its broader adoption and integration into daily diets, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes worldwide.

Keywords:Malnutrition, health benefits, amino acids, processing, value addition

References

Shahidi F, Chandrasekara A. Millet grain phenolics and their role in disease risk reduction and health promotion: A review. Journal of Functional Foods. 2013;5(2): 570-81.

Jideani I, Takeda Y, Hizukuri S. Structures and physiochemical properties of starches from acha (Digitaria exilis), Iburu (D. iburua), and tamba (Eleusine coracana). Cereal Chemistry. 1996;73.

Belton PS, Taylor JR, editors. Pseudocereals and less common cereals: Grain properties and utilization potential. Springer Science & Business Media; 2002 Jul 10.

Shiihii SU, Musa H, Bhati PG, Martins E. Evaluation of physicochemical properties of Eleusine coracana starch. Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2011; 10(1):91-102.

Pradeep PM, Sreerama YN. Impact of processing on the phenolic profiles of small millets: Evaluation of their antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties associated with hyperglycemia. Food Chemistry. 2015;169:455-63.

Sood S, Kumar A, Babu BK, Gaur VS, Pandey D, Kant L, Pattnayak A. Gene discovery and advances in finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] genomics—an important nutri-cereal of future. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2016; 7:219694.

Ramashia SE, Gwata ET, Meddows-Taylor S, Anyasi TA, Jideani AI. Some physical and functional properties of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) obtained in sub-Saharan Africa. Food Research International. 2018;104:110-8.

Devi PB, Vijayabharathi R, Sathyabama S, Malleshi NG, Priyadarisini VB. Health benefits of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) polyphenols and dietary fiber: A review. Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2014;51:1021-40.

Asamani, Emmanuel Kwaku, and Bonaventure Kissinger Maalekuu. Effect of processing on nutritional value and microbial characteristics of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus). Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research. 2023;10(3):80-92. Available:https://doi.org/10.9734/ajahr/2023/v10i3234.

Manzi KH, Shadrack Ngene, Joseph P. Gweyi-Onyango. Use of satellite data to extract ph values for crop planning and management of sorghum and green gram in Tharaka Nithi and Machakos Counties, Kenya. Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research. 2023;23(3):25- 32. Available:https://doi.org/10.9734/ajaar/2023/v23i3464.

Kusumastuti RD, Van Donk DP, Teunter R. Crop-related harvesting and processing planning: A review. International Journal of Production Economics. 2016 Apr 1;174:76-92.

Bogaard A, Jones G, Charles M. The impact of crop processing on the reconstruction of crop sowing time and cultivation intensity from archaeobotanical weed evidence. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany. 2005 Dec;14:505-9.

Dlamini NR, Siwela M. The future of grain science: The contribution of indigenous small grains to food security, nutrition and health in South Africa [AACCI Report].

Mathur PN. Global strategy for the ex situ conservation of finger millet and its wild relatives. Global Crop Diversity Trust & ICRISAT. 2012:7-57.

Gull A, Jan R, Nayik GA, Prasad K, Kumar P. Significance of finger millet in nutrition, health and value added products: A review. Magnesium (mg). 2014;130(32): 120.

Pandhre GR, Satwase AN, Hashmi AI. Studies on drying characteristics and nutritional composition of sprouted wheat and finger millet. International Journal of Current Research. 2011;3(7):218-21.

Wankhede DB, Shehnaj A, Raghavendra Rao MR. Carbohydrate composition of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) and foxtail millet (Setaria italica). Qualitas plantarum. 1979 Apr;28:293-303.

Chandra D, Chandra S, Sharma AK. Review of Finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn): A power house of health benefiting nutrients. Food Science and Human Wellness. 2016 Sep 1;5(3):149-55.

Gupta SM, Arora S, Mirza N, Pande A, Lata C, Puranik S, Kumar J, Kumar A. Finger millet: A “certain” crop for an “uncertain” future and a solution to food insecurity and hidden hunger under stressful environments. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2017 Apr 25;8:643.

Kumar SI, Babu CG, Reddy VC, Swathi B. Anti-nutritional factors in finger millet.

Jideani IA, Jideani VA. Developments on the cereal grains Digitaria exilis (acha) and Digitaria iburua (iburu). Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2011 Jun;48: 251-9.

Muthamilarasan M, Dhaka A, Yadav R, Prasad M. Exploration of millet models for developing nutrient rich graminaceous crops. Plant Science. 2016 Jan 1;242:89-97.

Chethan S, Malleshi NG. Finger millet polyphenols: Optimization of extraction and the effect of pH on their stability. Food Chemistry. 2007 Jan 1;105(2):862-70.

Hadimani NA, Malleshi NG. Studies on milling, physico-chemical properties, nutrient composition and dietary fibre content of millets. Journal of Food Science and Technology (India). 1993;30(1):17-20.

Ramachandra G, Virupaksha TK, Shadaksharaswamy M. Relation between tannin levels and in vitro protein digestibility in finger millet (Eleusine coracana Gaertn.). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 1977 May;25(5): 1101-4.

Manjula K, Bhagath YB, Kusuma Nagalakshmi KN. Effect of radiation processing on bioactive components of finger millet flour (Eleusine coracana L.). International Food Research Journal. 2015;22(2): 556-560.

Roopa S, Premavalli KS. Effect of processing on starch fractions in different varieties of finger millet. Food Chemistry. 2008;106(3):875-82.

Chappalwar VM, Peter D, Bobde H, John SM. Quality characteristics of cookies prepared from oats and finger millet based composite flour. Engineering Science and Technology: An International Journal. 2013;3(4):677-83.

Jideani IA. Digitaria exilis (acha/fonio), Digitaria iburua (iburu/fonio) and Eluesine coracana (tamba/finger millet)–Non-conventional cereal grains with potentials. Scientific Research and Essays. 2012; 7(45):3834-43.

Towo E, Mgoba C, Ndossi GD, Kimboka S. Effect of phytate and iron-binding phenolics on the content and availability of iron and zinc in micronutrients fortified cereal flours. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development. 2006;6(2).

Vanithasri J, Kanchana S, Hemalatha G, Vanniarajan C, Sahulhameed M. Role of millets and its importance in new mellinium. International Journal of Food Science & Technology. 2012;2(1):35- 47.

Prashanth MS, Muralikrishna G. Arabinoxylan from finger millet (Eleusine coracana, v. Indaf 15) bran: purification and characterization. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2014;99:800-7.

Saleh AS, Zhang Q, Chen J, Shen Q. Millet grains: nutritional quality, processing, and potential health benefits. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety. 2013 May;12(3):281-95.

Verma V, Patel S. Value added products from nutri-cereals: Finger millet (Eleusine coracana). Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture. 2013:169-76.

Reddy B, Kumar B, Kumar R, Thota H. Analysis of Heterotic Potential for Yield and Its Contributing Traits in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). International Journal of Environment and Climate Change. 2023;13(9):388-400.

Rathore M, Yellanki Pravalika RK, Tutlani A, Aggarwal N. Enhancing seed quality and insect management in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through optimization of storage treatments with natural and chemical compounds. Plant Archives. 2024;24(1):26-36.

Santhoshini A, Dubey N, Avinashe HA, Thonta R, Kumar R. Inheritance Studies in Segregating Population of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). International Journal of Environment and Climate Change. 2023;13(9):277-87.

Nisar S, Rashid Z, Touseef A, Kumar R, Nissa SU, Faheem J, Angrez A, Sabina N, Shabeena M, Tanveer A, Amal S. Productivity of fodder maize (Zea mays L.) SFM-1 under varied sowing dates and nitrogen levels. International Journal of Bio-resource and Stress Management. 2024;15(Jan, 1):01-12.

Siwela M. Finger millet grain phenolics and their impact on malt and cookie quality (Doctoral dissertation, University of Pretoria).

Ramashia SE, Anyasi TA, Gwata ET, Meddows-Taylor S, Jideani AI. Processing, nutritional composition and health benefits of finger millet in sub-saharan Africa. Food Science and Technology. 2019;39:253-66.

Fernandez DR, Vanderjagt DJ, Millson M, Huang YS, Chuang LT, Pastuszyn A, Glew RH. Fatty acid, amino acid and trace mineral composition of Eleusine coracana (Pwana) seeds from northern Nigeria. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition. 2003 Sep;58:1-0.

Serna-Saldivar SO. Cereal grains: Properties, processing, and nutritional attributes. CRC press; 2016 Apr 19.

Palanisamy BD, Rajendran V, Sathyaseelan S, Bhat R, Venkatesan BP. Enhancement of nutritional value of finger millet-based food (Indian dosa) by co-fermentation with horse gram flour. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. 2012;63(1):5-15.

Thapliyal V, Singh K. Finger millet: Potential millet for food security and power house of nutrients. International or Research in Agriculture and Forestry. 2015;2(2).

Birania S, Rohilla P, Kumar R, Kumar N. Post harvest processing of millets: A review on value added products. International Journal of Chemical Studies. 2020;8(1):1824-9.

Patel S, Verma V. Ways for better utilization of finger millet through processing and value addition and enhance nutritional security among tribals. Global Journal of Medical Research: Nutrition & Food Science. 2015;15(1):23-39.

Thilagavathi T, Banumathi P, Kanchana S, Ilamaran M. Effect of heat moisture treatment on functional and phytochemical properties of native and modified millet flours. Plant Archives. 2015; 15(1):15-21.

Udeh HO, Duodu KG, Jideani AI. Finger Millet Bioactive Compounds, Bioaccessibility, and Potential Health Effects--a Review. Czech Journal of Food Sciences. 2017;35(1).

Amadou I, Gounga ME, Le GW. Millets: Nutritional composition, some health benefit and processing-A review. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture. 2013:501-8.

Chandra A, Singh AK, Mahto B. Processing and value addition of finger millet to achieve nutritional and financial security–case study. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences. 2018;7(1):2901-10.

Sarita ES, Singh E. Potential of millets: Nutrients composition and health benefits. Journal of Scientific and Innovative Research. 2016;5(2):46-50.

Siwela M, Taylor JR, De Milliano WA, Duodu KG. Occurrence and location of tannins in finger millet grain and antioxidant activity of different grain types. Cereal Chemistry. 2007;84(2):169- 74.

Blench R. Finger millet: the contribution of vernacular names towards its prehistory. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. 2016;8(1):79-88.

Desai AD, Kulkarni SS, Sahoo AK, Ranveer RC, Dandge PB. Effect of supplementation of malted ragi flour on the nutritional and sensorial quality characteristics of cake. Advance Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2010;2(1): 67-71.

Rasane P, Jha A, Sabikhi L, Kumar A, Unnikrishnan VS. Nutritional advantages of oats and opportunities for its processing as value added foods-a review. Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2015;52: 662-75.

Singh P, Raghuvanshi RS. Finger millet for food and nutritional security. African Journal of Food Science. 2012;6(4):77-84.

Emmambux MN, Taylor JR. Morphology, physical, chemical, and functional properties of starches from cereals, legumes, and tubers cultivated in Africa: A review. Starch‐Stärke. 2013;65(9‐10):715-29.

Dutta A, Mukherjee R, Gupta A, Ledda A, Chakraborty R. Ultrastructural and physicochemical characteristics of rice under various conditions of puffing. Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2015;52: 7037-47.

Sarkar P, Dh LK, Dhumal C, Panigrahi SS, Choudhary R. Traditional and ayurvedic foods of Indian origin. Journal of Ethnic Foods. 2015;2(3):97-109.

Choudhury M, Das P, Baroova B. Nutritional evaluation of popped and malted indigenous millet of Assam. Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2011; 48:706-11.

Ambre PK, Sawant AA, Sawant PS. Processing and value addition: A finger millet review. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 2020;9(2):375-80.

Lee SH, Chung IM, Cha YS, Park Y. Millet consumption decreased serum concentration of triglyceride and Creactive protein but not oxidative status in hyperlipidemic rats. Nutrition Research. 2010;30(4):290-6.

Hegde PS, Rajasekaran NS, Chandra TS. Effects of the antioxidant properties of millet species on oxidative stress and glycemic status in alloxan-induced rats. Nutrition Research. 2005;25(12):1109- 20.

Jagati P, Mahapatra I, Dash D. Finger millet (Ragi) as an essential dietary supplement with key health benefits: A review. International Journal of Home Science. 2021;7(2):94-100.

Paudel P, Pandey MK, Subedi M, Paudel P, Kumar R. Genomic approaches for improving drought tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): A comprehensive review. Plant Archives. 2024;24(1):1289-300.

Banerjee S, Sanjay KR, Chethan S, Malleshi NG. Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) polyphenols: Investigation of their antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity. African Journal of Food Science. 2012;6(13):362-74.

Ranasalva N, Visvanathan R. Development of bread from fermented pearl millet flour; 2014.