Phytochemical, Physiochemical and Mineral Contents of Domesticated and Non Domesticated Populations of Momordica charantia L. Seeds Harvested at Two Maturity Stages

A.M.G.N. Rathnayake¹, D.C. Abeysinghe¹, R.M. Dharmadasa^2, , G.A. Prathapasinghe³ and L.J.A.P.A. Jayasooriya⁴

¹Department of Plantation Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Makandura, Gonawila (NWP), 60170, Sri Lanka

²Industrial Technology Institute, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka

³Department of Livestock and Avian Sciences, Faculty of Livestock Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Makandura, Gonawila (NWP), 60170, Sri Lanka

⁴Department of Basic Veterinary Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Cite this paper

A.M.G.N. Rathnayake, D.C. Abeysinghe, R.M. Dharmadasa, G.A. Prathapasinghe and L.J.A.P.A. Jayasooriya. Phytochemical, Physiochemical and Mineral Contents of Domesticated and Non Domesticated Populations of Momordica charantia L. Seeds Harvested at Two Maturity Stages. World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2018; 6(3):77-81. doi: 10.12691/WJAR-6-3-1

Abstract

Momordica charantia L. is a therapeutically important medicinal plant belonging to family Cucurbitaceae and extensively consumed as a vegetable and used as a treatment for an array of ailments in Ayurveda and traditional systems of medicine in Sri Lanka. Seeds of Momordica charantia contain an array of bioactive molecules including phenolics, carotenoids and rich source of physiochemical constituents, minerals, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA) and hence seeds possess anticancer, antitumor, anti-mutagenic, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic activities. Phyto-constituents and therapeutic activities are depend on plant species or variety, their genetic makeup and maturity stages. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to determine phytochemical physiochemical and mineral composition of six populations of Momordica charantia seeds harvested at two different maturity stages. Physiochemical composition was determined according to official AOAC method. Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and Total Phenolic Content (TPC) were determined using Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay and Folin-Ciocalteu method respectively. Mineral content was determined using Atomic Absorbance Spectrophotometric method. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in moisture, dry matter content, ash content, crude fat and crude protein among mature and ripen stages. While maturity progressed crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber and dry matter content were increased and moisture content was decreased. Mineral contents in Momordica seeds were varied between maturity stages as well as different populations. The highest mineral content was observed in undomesticated population. TAC and TPC decreased when maturity progressed and the highest TAC and TPC were observed in mature stage of Momordica seeds. Therefore, it is suggested to exploit undomesticated M. charantia populations with elevated phytonutrient contents for pharmaceutical and neutraceutical industries.

Keywords

antioxidant capacity, mineral content, Momordica charantia, phenolics, proximate composition

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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