Nutraceutical Potential of Wild Leafy Vegetables Commonly Consumed by Tribal Communities: Cassia tora (L.) Roxb., Acalypha fruiticosa Forssk. and Talinum portulacifolium (Forssk.) Asch. ex Schweinf

Abstract

Wide variety of consumable leafy vegetables are present in the nature but most of them are neither utilised nor scientifically investigated. Nutraceutical potential of these plants should be studied to enrich our knowledge, thus making them part of balanced diets. In view of this objective, three leafy vegetables were selected viz., Cassia tora (L.) Roxb., Acalypha fruiticosa Forssk. and Talinum portulacifolium (Forssk.) Asch. ex Schweinf. Phytochemical screening of the leaves collected from these plants was done in four solvents which revealed the presence of many secondary metabolites. Estimation of bioactive components revealed that the total phenolics (22.84 mgGAEg^-1), flavonoids (4.60 mgQEg^-1) and ascorbic acid (37.34 mg100g^-1) were accounted highest in C. tora whereas lycopene (12.61 mg100g^-1) and β-carotene (13.79 mg100g^-1) in C. tora were on par with A. fruiticosa (12.45 mg100g^-1 lycopene and 12.51 mg100g^-1 β-carotene). Anthocyanin content was highest in T. portulacifolium (23.62 mg100g^-1). The antioxidant activity was estimated using three assays and the maximum antioxidant activity was recorded in C. tora with lowest IC₅₀ values of 431.94 µgmL^-1, 30.58 µgmL^-1 and 107.59 µgmL^-1 in DPPH, FRAP and ABTS assays, respectively. Among the three wild edible plants, C. tora recorded the highest concentration of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity.

Keywords: Natural antioxidant; Nutraceuticals; Polyphenols; Secondary metabolites; Western ghats; Wild leafy vegetables.