title: Antioxidant activity and nutritional assessment of under-utilized medicinal plants.
abstract: The present study investigates the nutritive and anti-nutritive composition of six species (Allium porrum, Amaranthus spinosis, Apium graveolens, Caralluma edulis, Chenopodium album, Urtica dioica). The studied species contained considerable amount of crude protein (4.53-11.41%), crude fat (1.25-3.74%), vitamin C (7.85-28.09mg 100-1g) and β-Carotene (18.29-169.33mg 100-1g). The mineral profile of Chenopodium album is considered as potential source of Zn (14.51±1.14mg 100-1g), Mn (67.71±0.85mg 100-1g), Se (8.45±0.49mg 100-1g) and Fe (182.08±1.52mg 100-1g) and Caralluma edulis as potential source of Fe (7.28± 0.03mg 100-1g). Ca and P content ranged 63-306mg 100-1g and 12-392mg 100-1g in all studied plants with exceptionally high level was found in Chenopodium album (1084mg 100-1g) and (3924mg 100-1g), respectively. Similarly, total phenol, tannin and phytic acid were found in the range of 105-354, 5-90 and 10-85mg 100-1g, respectively. Total oxalates and soluble oxalates contents were below 200mg 100-1g in five examined plants with the exception of Chenopodium album (413mg 100-1g). Antioxidant activity of Caralluma edulis was found maximum while the rest of the examined plants had moderate levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agric. Chemistry, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, KPK Pakistan.
authors.forename: Anwar Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shad
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, KPK Pakistan.
authors.forename: Jehan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bakht
authors.affiliation: Hamid Ullah Shah.
authors.forename: Hamid Ullah
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Maths, Stats and Computer Science, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, KPK Pakistan.
authors.forename: Yosuaf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayat
mesh_terms: D027721:Amaranthus / Q000737:chemistry*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077102:Apium / Q000737:chemistry*; D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D027463:Chenopodium album / Q000737:chemistry*; D005223:Fats / Q000032:analysis; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D009753:Nutritive Value; D019697:Onions / Q000737:chemistry*; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D026982:Urtica dioica / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D005223:Fats; D008903:Minerals; D064209:Phytochemicals; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010940:Plant Proteins; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl