Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2020) 9(6): 1303-1311 1303 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.906.162 Nutraceutical Values of Minor Fruits on Immunity Development to Combat Diseases A. D. Ashok * , J. Ravivarman and K. Kayalvizhi Institute of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kumulur - 621712, Trichy, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Malnutrition affects one in every three persons on the planet. A total of 159 million children under the age of five are estimated to be stunted. Two billion people are deficient in one or more micronutrients and nearly the same number are overweight or obese. Diversity in food plates balances the diets by supplying missing nutrients (Biodiversity International - India. Fact sheet 7). Fruits play predominant role in the diet. Several health based statistical reports highlight the importance of consumption of fruits as they tend to contain broad-spectrum essential nutrients including phenolic antioxidants that impart protective role against several diseases (Yallesh Kumar et al., 2018). Through the utilization of underutilized minor fruits, we can bridge this gap as they grow in adverse conditions on all kinds of soil. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 9 Number 6 (2020) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Fruits play predominant role in the diet. Through the utilization of underutilized minor fruits, we can bridge this gap as they grow in adverse conditions on all kinds of soil. This strength of minor fruits is particularly useful in a country like India, where majority of the farmers are resource-poor and carry out farming under not so favourable conditions. Minor fruits are consumable to the human beings but relatively less Palatable than other fruits, which have lesser demand in the market, which are grown to a limited extent only. Amla, Bael, Jamun, Pomegranate, Jack fruit, Carambola, Phalsa, Karonda, Passion fruit, Rambutan, Wood apple, Durian, Malayan apple, Karonda, Fig, Annona, Buchanania/charoli, Garcinia gummi-gutta, Syzygium, Opuntia are some of the minor edible fruits cultivated or grown in Indian subcontinent. The minor fruits are reservoirs of several essential nutrient elements, vitamins and minerals and bioactive compounds are directly attributed to antioxidant properties against various free radicals. It is believed that regular consumption of these fruits will aid in preventing several diseases and disorders including obesity, diabetes and chronic diseases. They have a greater potential to cure several deficiency disorders and also increase the immunity against diseases. So that more awareness is created among the consumers, which will subsequently benefit to fight several nutrition related problems. Therefore, it is probably apt to call them as ‘medicinal fruits’ instead of nearly neglected ‘minor fruits’. This review deals with the minor fruits and their nutraceutical values which improves human immune system. Keywords Minor fruits, Underutilized fruits, Nutraceuticals, Anti-oxidants, Fruit alkaloids, Medicinal fruits Accepted: 18 May 2020 Available Online: 10 June 2020 Article Info