Nutraceutical and Health Benefits of Two Underutilized Leafy Vegetables (Pterocarpus santalinoides and Napoleona imperialis)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional and health implication of Pterocarpus santalinoides (Uturukpa) and Napoleona imperialis (Mkpodu) leaves. The vegetables were harvested from the forest in Udi Local Government area in Enugu State and identified at Department of Agronomy, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria. The vegetables were trimmed and washed with deionized water and drained. The vegetables were ground using hammer mill into paste separately and coded as sample A (Pterocarpus santalinoides) and sample B (Napoleona imperialis). Both samples were analyzed in the laboratory for proximate, vitamins, minerals, anti-nutrients and phytochemicals. The results were analyzed statistically using mean and standard deviation. The result showed that the proximate composition (on wet wt. basis) of sample A and B were protein 1.06 and 5.27%, fat 0.98 and 0.71%, fibre 0.90 and 1.01%, ash 2.73 and 1.27% and carbohydrate 30.63 and 23.54% respectively. The vitamin constituents were beta carotene 360.00 and 360.00 µg/100 g, vitamin C 5.20 and 7.13 mg/100 g and vitamin E 2.80 and 1.45 mg/100 g for sample A and B respectively. The result of the minerals were iron 3.49 and 1.40 mg/100 g, zinc 0.92 and 2.10 mg/100 g, calcium 36.00 and 25.60 mg/100 g, magnesium 20.01 and 25.20 mg/100 g and potassium 11.27 and 70.92 mg/100 g for sample A and B respectively. The result of the pyhtochemicals revealed that both leaves contained an appreciable amount of phytochemicals which are component of herbs use for ethnomedicine. The anti-nutrients in sample A and B were cyanide 0.48 and 0.94%, oxalate 1.08 and 3.87% and phytate 0.25 and 6.01% respectively. The high protein, fibre and mineral content of Napoleona imperialis is of interest, hence these lesser known vegetables are recommended due to its high nutritional content and health benefit.

Chemical composition and antioxidant studies of underutilized part of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) fruit

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L) is one of Indonesian fruit with export commodity due to its sweet-sour andpleasant taste. The pulp of this fruit is frequently consumed freshly, while the seed and peel are removed and become awaste. The chemical components contained in mangosteen’s seed and peel, especially xanthones, have been reported asantioxidants either in vitro or in vivo. Several traditional medicine products used the extracts of mangosteen as one ofits components; therefore, the characterization of mangosteen extracts through identification of its active componentsis very important. This review article highlighted the updates on the characterization and antioxidant activities ofmangosteen’s seed and peel to prove that the wastes of mangosteen fruit could be advantageous to be developed asfunctional food as antioxidants. Several databases have been used during performing this review, including PubMed,Scopus, Biological abstracts, chemical abstracts, and Google Scholar.

A comparison of callus induction in 4 Garcinia species

Background: This research is intended to determine suitable types and concentrations of plant growth regulators (PGRs) to induce callus on stem and leaf sections of 4 species of the genus Garcinia, namely, Garcinia mangostana, Garcinia schomburgkiana, Garcinia cowa, and Garcinia celebica. The base medium was MS medium containing 30 g l -1 sucrose, 0.5 g l-1 polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and 7 g l-1 agar, and for the different treatments, PGRs were added to the medium as follows: thidiazuron (TDZ) at concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg l-1; 6-(3- hydroxybenzylamino) purine (meta-topolin) at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 2.5, and 5 mg l-1; 4-amino-3,5,6- trichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid (picloram) at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 2.5, and 5 mg l-1; and 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg l-1. The occurrence of callus was observed after 4 weeks. Results: A maximum of 100% and 93% of G. mangostana leaf explants formed callus in the 0.5 mg l-1 and 1 mg l-1 TDZ treatments, respectively, while 100% of G. schomburgkiana stem explants formed callus in the 1 mg l-1 TDZ treatment and 89% of G. schomburgkiana leaf explants formed callus in the 0.5 mg l-1 picloram treatment. The highest callus induction rate for G. cowa was 62% in the 1 mg l-1 TDZ treatment and for G. celebica was 56% in the 0.5 mg l-1•mT-1 treatment. Conclusions: For all 4 species, the greatest amount of large nodular callus was observed in the TDZ treatments. White, friable callus was observed on most of the 2,4-D and picloram treatment groups. Most meta-topolin treatments resulted in minimal callus formation.

Comparative Evaluation of Antioxidant Potential in Thermally Processed, Underutilized Food Grains of the Himalayan Region

Aims: To determine the bioactive components and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in selected underutilized crops of the Himalayan region viz. Barnyard millet, Grain amaranth, Rice bean, Black soybean and Horsegram. Study Design: Experimental design (Lab experiment). Place and Duration of Study: Department of Foods and Nutrition, College of Home Science, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, in the year 2016-18. Methodology: We applied different processing techniques (covered pan cooking and pressure cooking) in the underutilized crops and analyzed the total phenol, total flavonoids and total antioxidant capacity (Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and (2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) (DPPH) by using standard methods. Results: It was found that black soybean had highest phenolic content after both thermal treatments (3233.76 mg GAE/100 g for pan cooked and 1883.11 mg GAE/100 g for pressure cooked samples) and TAC by both FRAP (6423.76 mg TE/100 g for pan-cooked and 4415.58 mg TE/100 g for pressure cooked) and DPPH (536.41 and 453.98 mg TE/100g for pan and pressure cooked samples, respectively) method. Among raw samples, rice bean contained the highest flavonoid content and TAC by FRAP assay. In contrast, raw grain Amaranth showed the lowest phenolic content. Further, pressure cooking was found to be better for barnyard millet, while in pulses, pan cooking yielded the best results (in terms of increased value/lower losses). Conclusion: It can be concluded that among pulses pan cooked black soybean was found to have a good store of bioactive compounds as compared to rice bean and horse gram. The pressure cooking method was found to be suitable for millet like a barnyard.

Physicochemical Characterization, Antioxidant Potential and Sensory Quality of Wine from Wild Edible Fruits of Flacourtia montana J. Graham

Abstract The objective of the present study was to produce wine from wild edible fruits of Flacourtia montana J. Graham. The various physicochemical attributes including total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were analyzed. Further, the prepared wine was evaluated for the antioxidant potential using four different assays, viz., 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power assay and total antioxidant activity. Finally, the wine was subjected for the sensory evaluation. Experimental results revealed that wine had an alcohol content of 7.20%, total phenolic content of 0.776±0.032 mg GAE/ml and total flavonoids of 0.121±0.012 mg QE/ml. High performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the presence of four major phenolic acids, viz., gallic acid (0.009±0.0005 mg/ml), chlorogenic acid (0.623±0.091 mg/ml), catechin (0.063±0.011 µg/ml) and epicatechin (0.060±0.009 mg/ml). In vitro antioxidant analysis of wine was able to successfully scavenge the free radicals in a dose dependent manner. Sensory scores indicated wine to be good in overall acceptability. Thus, present study highlighted the therapeutic nature of wine prepared from this underutilized fruit which could provide possibilities for enhancing socio-economic benefits among rural communities.

Evaluación nutricional de la papa de aire (Dioscorea bulbifera L) cultivada en panamá / Nutritional evaluation of air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera L) grown in panamá

El objetivo del presente estudio fue el de conocer la composición nutricional de los tubérculos de la papa de aire (Dioscorea bulbifera L.) especie subutilizada en la agricultura campesina panameña. Se seleccionaron 18 muestras obtenidas de parcelas de prueba ubicadas en comunidades campesinas del distrito de Donoso, provincia de Colón, en Panamá, durante los años 2012 y 2013. A las muestras seleccionadas se les determinó humedad, proteínas, azúcares, almidón, lípidos, cenizas y contenido energético. En el segundo año se incluyó el análisis de vitamina C, compuestos fenólicos y actividad antioxidante. No se encontraron diferencias significativas de los valores entre comunidades, tipo de parcela y año de cultivo, lo cual evidencia una alta estabilidad de estos valores nutricionales en las condiciones del trópico muy húmedo de Panamá. Los resultados obtenidos presentan un contenido nutricional similar al de otros tubérculos utilizados en la dieta campesina de Panamá. Los valores de actividad antioxidante y contenido de compuestos fenólicos encontrados le confieren características de alimento funcional(AU)

The goal of this study was to determine the nutritional composition of air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera L.) tubers, underutilized specie in the Panamanian peasant agriculture. The samples were obtained from test plots located in rural communities in the district of Donoso, Province of Colon in Panama, during the years 2012 and 2013. Contents of moisture, protein, sugars, starch, lipids, ashes and energetic were determined to the 18 selected samples. In the second year were included analysis of vitamin C, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. No significant differences of the values between communities, type of land and crop year were found, which suggest high stability of these nutritional values of air potato, in the very humid tropics conditions of Panama. The results show that the air potato tubers have a nutritional value similar to other tubers used in the peasant diet of Panama. The levels of antioxidant activity and phenolic content found, give D. bulbifera characteristics as a functional food(AU)

Macronutrients and Micronutrients Profile of Some Underutilized Beans in South Western Nigeria.

Beans are a rich source of nutrients in human diet. However a number of edible bean varieties are largely underutilized in developing countries due to little or no information on their nutritional composition. The present study investigated the nutritional content of mung beans, African yam beans, soybeans, black eyed peas and pigeon peas from parts of South Western Nigeria. Samples were collected randomly in duplicates across the six South-western states of Nigeria. Common beans was included as a reference for comparison. Standard methods were used to determine the proximate composition of all bean samples. Mineral nutrients and phaseolin protein fractions (albumin, globulin and prolamine) of bean samples (excluding pigeon pea varieties) was also determined. The proximate, mineral and phaseolin protein contents differed significantly (P<.05) between bean types. Highest protein, fat, carbohydrate, crude fibre and ash content was in African yam bean (24.96%), mung beans (6.60%), soybean (62.81%), mung beans (15.24%) and African yam beans (4.30%), respectively. The beans compared fairly with common beans in proximate composition. Mineral nutrients differed significantly (P<.05) between bean types. Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium (particularly in Mung beans) were in high amounts. Black eyed peas had the lowest total of mineral content while mung beans had the highest. The phaseolin protein fractions were significantly different (P<.05) among bean types. African yam bean had the highest albumin and globulin content (%/mg protein) of 41.89 and 35.70 respectively, while prolamine was highest in soybeans. These results indicated that these underutilized beans compares favourably in terms of nutritional composition with widely consumed common beans in Nigeria. In addition, African yam beans and Mung beans are equally suitable alternatives from a protein-rich standpoint.

Antibacterial activity of Indian cherry during its growth and ripening.

The fruits of Cordia dichotoma, which are underutilized, have been used to identify its antibacterial activity. Among the different non-polar to polar extracts used diethyl ether extracts showed inhibition of more number of bacterial strains than other extracts used. Methanol fraction however showed highest zone of inhibition against Salmonella paratyphi using premature and mature fruit extracts and recorded minimum inhibitory concentration value of 0.5 mg/ml. Among all the extracts used gram positive bacterial strains were more susceptible than the gram negative bacterial strains. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bacillus cereus proved to be highly susceptible, while Escherichia coli proved to be most resistant among all the bacterial cultures used. Further studies are however needed to identify and ascertain the role of bioactive compounds responsible for the antibacterial activity.