Indigenous underutilized fruits in Bangladesh as future resilient foods: insight into the nutritional value, bioactive compounds, and health benefits

Bangladesh hosts a wide variety of indigenous fruits that have long contributed to rural nutrition and health, yet they remain largely underutilized in modern agriculture and food systems. These fruits are naturally resilient to environmental stresses and well-suited to local agro-ecological conditions, making them valuable resources for enhancing food and nutrition security, especially in the face of increasing climate change pressures. Many of these fruits also have high nutritional and medicinal value, which can help address dietary nutrient deficiencies. This review highlights several promising underutilized fruits and examines their potential as future resilient foods. It explores their nutritional composition, health benefits, diversity, cultivation status, market availability, and importance within local food systems. In addition, the study considers opportunities for value-added product development and evaluates their potential contribution to food security and sustainability through SWOT analysis aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). Findings indicate that many underutilized fruits in Bangladesh are rich in essential nutrients and bioactive compounds, often exceeding the nutritional quality of widely consumed commercial fruits. Species such as Karonda (Carissa carandas), Tamarind (Tamarindus indica), and Custard Apple (Annona reticulata) show strong antioxidant and therapeutic properties, emphasizing their potential for creating resilient, nutrition-focused, and sustainable food systems.