Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access

Abstract

Nutritional composition, anti-nutrient factors and antioxidant potentials of Momordica cymbalaria Hook F.

Naseem Shaika, Khadar Basha Shaik, Suneetha Vallepu, Prema Chanchala Kumari Rachuri, Sreenivasulu Niduram, Peddaiah Vengaiahgari, Ramakrishana Vadde and Shaik Sha Valli Khan Patan*

Introduction: Momordica cymbalaria Hook. F. is a perennial creeper and a highly acceptable wild vegetable in South India. The present research aims to investigate the nutritional composition, antinutrients, enzyme inhibitors and antioxidant activities of the tuber, leaf, and fruit of M. cymbalaria.

Methods: The proximate analysis was carried out using the prescribed techniques. The minerals were analysed using the Optimal Emission Spectrometer (OES) equipped with the Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP). The amino acids were detected using the HPLC system. Antinutrients (phytate, total phenolic content, tannin), enzyme inhibitors (α-amylase and trypsin) and antioxidant activities (by DPPH, ABTS radicle scavenging and RPA assays) of the tuber, leaf, and fruit were carried out using colourimetric methods.

Results: The mean proximate components of fruit were greater than those of the leaf and tuber. The leaves are a rich source of potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, zinc and manganese. The leaf and fruit contained higher levels of leucine, valine, lysine, phenylalanine, and isoleucine. The leaf had higher concentrations of phytic acid (305 mg/100 g), total phenolic acid (760 mg GAE/100 g), tannins (129 mg GAE/100 g), α-amylase (39.17% inhibition) and trypsin inhibitors (21.05% inhibition). The fruit has shown the highest antioxidant activity as it contains the highest DPPH (14.36 AAE mg/100 g), ABTS (0.53 TE mg/100 g) scavenging activities and reducing power values (10.86 EC50).

Conclusion: M. cymbalaria can be a potential vegetable with a rich nutrient profile and antioxidant potential. Furthermore, the leaf and fruit were demonstrated as excellent sources of essential amino acids for human subjects. The leaf had higher concentrations of antinutrients i.e. phytic acid, total phenolic acid, and tannins. M. cymbalaria exhibited hypoglycaemic influence through an inhibitory effect on α-amylase and antioxidant activities. The rich carbohydrate profile of tubers offers potential for their use as nutraceutical and functional food.

Published Date: 2024-09-02; Received Date: 2024-08-05