Proso millet (cheena)

Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum), a notable minor millet in the Gramineae family, is an annual monocotyledonous grass. Archaeological evidence indicates that it was first domesticated in northern China around 10,000 years ago. Recently, the grain has garnered attention from commercial and scientific communities due to its high mineral and amino acid content, low glycemic index, and gluten-free properties. Today, proso millet is widely grown across America, Europe, and Asia and remains a significant global food crop. Its short growth cycle and low water requirements make it an ideal rotation crop for winter wheat, helping to preserve soil moisture, manage winter weeds, and reduce the incidence of insects and diseases. Additionally, proso millet serves as a valuable intercropping option to mitigate economic losses when other crops fail to harvest or planting is delayed due to adverse weather. This fast-growing millet is commonly cultivated in India, thriving in hot tropical summers and at high altitudes, particularly in regions with short growing seasons and low soil fertility. Common millet, a grain crop, requires the least amount of water and may thrive in any soil except coarse sand. This plant thrives on high-elevation plateaus and is grown in the Himalayan region up to 2700 meters. The crop’s fast maturity allows it to withstand drought. The husked grain, which accounts for around 70% of the total grain, is healthy and can be consumed whole, boiled, or cooked as rice. It is sometimes ground into roti and consumed. Seeds are also parched and eaten. Panicum miliaceum contains 9% water, 75% carbohydrates, 11% protein, and 4% fat. Panicum miliaceum contains 382 calories per 100 grams (3.5 oz) and is a high source (20% or more of the Daily Value, DV) of numerous B vitamins and dietary minerals. Demand for more diverse and healthier cereal-based diets is rising, particularly in developed countries. The protein content in proso millet grains is comparable to that of wheat, but the ratio of specific essential amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and methionine) is significantly higher in proso millet.

Kingdom:        Plantae

Order:              Poales

Family:            Poaceae

Genus:             Panicum

Species:           miliaceum

• • Vernacular Name: Panicum miliaceum known as Bengali: Cheena. Odia: China bachari Bagmu. Kannada: Baragu; Telugu: Variga. Hindi: chena or barri. Punjabi: Cheena. Gujarati: cheno, Marathi: Varaī. Tamil: Pani Varagu, Nepali: Dudhe.
  • Origin: Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum), often known as broomcorn millet, is one of the most significant food crops developed by mankind. It is widely dispersed in America, Europe, and Asia. It was domesticated in central and eastern Asia and cultivated by nomads because of its rapid maturity.
  • Plants parts: Crops are harvested every year. The plant’s culms are strong and range in height from 20 to 150 cm. Lower nodes is shiny, but internodes may be foamy or hispid. The leaves are cauline, with hispid sheaths. Leaf blades are 15 to 40 cm long and 1 to 2.5 cm wide, and they can be glabrous, pilose, or hispid. They feature a cordate or amplexicaul base with a sharply curved tip. The ligule is 1.5 to 3 mm long, with a fringe of hairs on a membranous base. The panicle, which is rectangular to ovate and 15 to 35 cm long, droops when mature due to the weight of the spikelets that pile on the branch. Spikelets ovate to ovate-oblong, 4-5 mm, glabrous, acute to sharp; lower glume ovate, 1/2-3/4 length of spikelet, 5-veined, acute or acuminate, separated by a short internode; upper glume equal to spikelet, 9-13-veined, acute or acuminate; lower floret barren, lemma similar to upper glume, palea reduced or absent; upper floret orange or yellow, smooth, shiny, usually persistent From July to October, the plant flowers and produces fruit. It grows extensively, especially in mountainous areas, and may be found in Bhutan, India, Japan, and other nations.
  • Geographical distribution: Proso millet is one of the oldest grain crops, and it is planted all over the world under several names, such as broom corn millet, hog millet, Hershey millet, proso millet, or ordinary millet. It is widely grown in India, Japan, China, Egypt, Arabia, and Western Europe. In India, Proso millet is grown primarily in Madhya Pradesh, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
  • Functional properties:
    • Antioxidant properties: Proso millet contains lignin, phytic acids, flavonoids, and condensed tannins, which can provide antioxidant protection. Proso millet has a total phenolic content of 140 mg/100 g, comparable to ferulic acid in soluble fractions. Polyphenols and tannins impede glucose absorption and protein metabolism, resulting in slower energy release. The impact of bound phenolics in the colon on the formation of SCFs and B-complex vitamins is highly valued.
    • Preventive food for liver injury: Proso millet has been identified as a potential preventive food for liver injury due to its unique nutritional profile and bioactive compounds. Research indicates that the protein derived from proso millet can help prevent liver damage caused by various toxins, such as D-galactosamine and carbon tetrachloride. In studies involving rats, it was found that diets containing proso millet protein significantly suppressed the elevation of liver enzymes, such as aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, which are indicators of liver injury. This protective effect was observed even at lower dietary protein levels compared to traditional sources like casein, suggesting that proso millet may be particularly effective in promoting liver health.

  It contains antioxidants that play a crucial role in detoxifying the liver. Compounds like curcumin, quercetin, ellagic acid, and catechins found in proso millet help neutralize free radicals and enhance the liver’s ability to eliminate toxins. This dual action of providing both protective proteins and antioxidant compounds makes proso millet a valuable dietary addition for supporting liver function and preventing injury.

  • Dietary Fiber: Soluble and insoluble fibers are the main sources of dietary fiber in proso millet and are important for gut health. For those with diabetes, soluble fiber is helpful because it slows down the absorption of glucose, which helps to control blood sugar levels. Because proso millet has a low glycemic index and helps to reduce blood sugar increases after meals, this characteristic is very significant. Conversely, insoluble fiber helps to maintain the health of the digestive system by giving the stool more volume and encouraging regular bowel movements, which helps to avoid constipation. A sensation of fullness that lowers overall calorie intake and helps with weight management is another benefit of the high fiber content.