Title:Total Phenolics, Total Carotenoids and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Unconventional Vegetables Growing in Bangladesh
Volume: 16
Issue: 7
Author(s): Mohammad K. Alam*, Ziaul H. Rana, Nazura Kabir, Parveen Begum, Mahbuba Kawsar, Maksuda Khatun, Monira Ahsan and Sheikh N. Islam
Affiliation:
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000,Bangladesh
Keywords:
Antioxidant activity, Bangladesh, principal component analysis, total carotenoids content, total phenolic content,
unconventional vegetables.
Abstract:
Background: Phenolics and carotenoids are natural antioxidants, which provide health
benefits and protect against degenerative chronic diseases. Utilization and identification of foods
with a high content of these have received greater attention nowadays.
Objective: The present study reports the total phenolics (TPC) and total carotenoids (TCC) contents
of thirty-two selected unconventional vegetables growing in Bangladesh. In addition, they were also
analyzed for their antioxidant potentials.
Methods: Folin-Ciocalteu and acetone-petroleum ether extraction followed by spectrophotometric
measurements was employed for TPC and TCC, respectively. The antioxidant capacities of the selected
unconventional leafy vegetables were analyzed using DPPH and Trolox equivalent antioxidant
capacity (TEAC) assays.
Results: The results revealed that the TPC ranged from 82.41 mg GAE/100 g in Kiokro to 2711.05 mg
GAE/100 g in Mrolapiong whereas the TCC values ranged from 43.05 μg/100 g in Fala to 12863.54
μg/100 g in Roktodrone. The study findings also revealed that the selected plant samples exhibited
high antioxidant capacities. Mrolapiong demonstrated the highest DPPH inhibition (91.31%) and
TEAC (485.55 μmol Trolox/g) value than others. The antioxidant capacities were attributed to phenolic
compounds as there exists a positive correlation between these two variables. Bioactive phytochemicals
are widely distributed in these vegetables, although their amounts vary among the different
types of vegetables.
Conclusion: The study results suggest that the analyzed vegetables may provide a possible source of
dietary antioxidants and serve as materials for functional foods. Therefore, their production and consumption
must be encouraged in order to preserve biodiversity and prevent their extinction.