Ajijolakewu, Kamoldeen AbiodunAyoola, Saheed AbiodunAgbabiaka, Tariq OluwakunmiZakariyah, Rahmat FolashadeAhmed, Risikat NikeOyedele, Julius OlusegunSani, Al-hassan2021-08-242021-08-242021Ajijolakewu et al., 2021https://uilspace.unilorin.edu.ng/handle/20.500.12484/6270Background: More people—in both developing and developed countries—now use, and are favourably disposed to, traditional medicine. Musa paradisiaca (plantain) is used extensively in traditional medicine across continents. In this review, we investigated the scientifc justifcation of this extensive usage. Main body: Generally, several studies validate usage in infectious diseases, but limited antiviral and in vivo reports exist. The mechanistic elicitation of antimicrobial activity has similarly not been ascertained. Contrarily, data abound from rigorous studies on physiological conditions. Activity across categories is tied to the potent phytosterols duo of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol; and the triterpenes viz. cycloeucalenone, 24-methylene-cycloartanol, and 31-norcy clolaudenone; present in plantain. Toxicity studies, while fnite, suggest general safety and tolerance. Conclusions: Findings in the studies reviewed projects plantain as a veritable source for drug bioprospecting that will be of beneft to scientifc research and pharmaceutical industriesenMusa paradisiaca, Plantain, Peel, Fruit, Antimicrobial, Phytochemicals, Extract, Medicinal, ActivityArticle