Plantain plant (Musa ) of the banana family (Musaceae) is closely related to the common banana (M. sapientum).

The plantain is a tall plant (3–10 metres/10–33 feet]) with a conical false “trunk” formed by the leaf sheaths of its spirally arranged leaves, which are 1.5- 3m long and about 0.5m wide. The fruit is green and typically larger than the common banana. The botanical classification of plantains and bananas is so complicated that plantain is most times viewed as a sub-species of the banana and vice versa.

The edible fruit of the plantain has more starch than the banana and is not eaten raw. Because plantain has a maximum level of starch just before it ripens, it is advisable that it be cooked green; either boiled or fried with coconut juice or sugar as flavouring. It may also be dried for later use in cooking or ground for use as a meal. The plantain meal can be further refined to a flour.

Plantain relatively has more calories weight for weight than the table bananas. 100 g plantain holds about 122 calories while dessert banana has only 89 calories. Indeed, they are very reliable sources of starch and energy; ensuring food security for millions of inhabitants worldwide.

Plantains contain more vitamin A than bananas; 100 g fresh ripe plantains contain 1127 IU or 37.5% of daily required levels of this vitamin. Besides being a powerful antioxidant, vitamin A plays a vital role in the visual cycle, maintaining healthy mucus membranes and enhancing skin complexion.

As in bananas, they too are rich sources of B-complex vitamins and particularly high in vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine). Pyridoxine is an important B-complex vitamin that has a beneficial role in the treatment of neuritis, anemia and the decrease of homocystine (one of the causative factors for coronary artery disease (CHD) and stroke episodes) levels in the body. In addition the fruit contains moderate levels of folates, niacin, riboflavin and thiamin.

Fresh plantains have more potassium than bananas; 100 g fruit provides 499 mg of potassium (358 mg per 100 g for bananas). Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure, countering negative effects of sodium. They also provide adequate levels of minerals such as iron, magnesium, and phosphorous. Magnesium is essential for bone strengthening and has a cardiac-protective role as well.

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