Assay of Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Three Dioecious Momordica Species of South East Asia

Abstract

Phytochemicals including minerals, total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant capacity were measured with ferric reducing antioxidant power and radical scavenging capacity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl or DPPH) in fruits of three wild/semi domesticated Momordica species (Momordica dioica, M. subangulata subsp. renigera and M. cochinchinensis) of south east Asia. Momordica dioica had significantly high crude protein (1.86 g/100 g), crude fat (1.0 g/100 g), total sugar (11.36 g/100 g), reducing sugar (9.6 g/100 g) and starch (8.72 g/100 g) in comparison to other species. Among the minerals analysed, phosphorus, iron and copper content was maximum inM. subangulata subsp. renigera (0.37 %, 119.80 ppm, 10.80 ppm respectively) while magnesium and zinc content was maximum in M. dioica (0.18 %, 37.40 ppm respectively). Interestingly, in contrast to all other minerals, manganese content was significantly higher in M. cochinchinensis (178 ppm). The total phenol, total flavonoids, DPPH and FRAP values ranged from 26.08 to 106.89 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g, 0.99–12.45 mg catechin equivalent/100 g, 43.56–81.73 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/100 g, 5.75–65.84 mg ascorbic acid equivalent anti-oxidant capacity/100 g, respectively. Among the species studied M. dioica showed the highest antioxidant activity as it contains total phenol (106.89 mg/100 g), total flavonoids (12.45 mg/100 g), DPPH (81.73 mg/100 g) and FRAP (65.84 mg/100 g). From the present study, it is concluded that these traditional vegetables may contribute in a significant way to the food and nutritional security and balanced diets of both rural and urban households besides being a potential source of natural antioxidant.