NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF STEM OF (Nymphaea nouchali) AND (Nymphaea rubra

Abstract

Currently, all over the world, the developing nations are facing the problem of malnutrition. In developing countries, the conventional aquatic plant has been providing an economically favorable alternative source of protein and energy in lieu of animal protein. Nymphaea nouchali (water lily) is our national flower and people prefer to consume water lily stems as a vegetable in curry. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional composition including major and trace minerals, antioxidants and phytochemical activity to priorities their edibility and the medicinal uses of two Nymphaeaceae species such as N. nochali (white verity) and N. rubra (red verity). Both species serve as a good source of fiber, carbohydrate, minerals and bioactive compounds, assayed by following the Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC-2005) methods. The stems were rich in essential minerals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P) and sufficient trace elements (Fe, Zn, Cu). Antioxidant activity, IC₅₀ values were found 36.67 and 28.48 μg/ml N. nochali and N. rubra respectively where the value for standard ascorbic acid was 9.56μg/ml. Quantitative analysis of total phenol compounds were 16.51 and 15.48mg GAE /g in N. rubra and N. rubra respectively and total flavonoid contains of both species were nearly similar 7.6 mg QE/g. From the above biochemical quantification, it can be suggested that both species of aquatic plants can be incorporated as a good source of nutrients in our regular diet.