ArticlePDF Available

Nutritional composition of dried curry leaf powder (Murraya koenigii)

Authors:
Kanika Varma at University of Rajasthan
Kanika Varma
Mamta Parnami at University of Rajasthan
Mamta Parnami
Download full-text PDF
Read full-text
Download citation

Abstract and Figures

Medicinal plants have long been documented with multiple health benefits and scaling down the risk associated with non-communicable diseases. Curry leaves (Murraya Koenigii) have a long history of being used as a flavoring agent in many of South Indian recipes. Documented studies claim the leaves to be a rich source of various nutrients. However, there is a dearth of research data on the nutrient composition of the leaves in dried form. Sun and shade dried curry leaves collected from Alwar city; a district in Rajasthan State, India were analyzed for its proximate, vitamin and mineral composition. The proximate analysis exhibited the dried leaves to contain very less amount of moisture (5.86%), fat (2.43%) and protein (3.81%). The carbohydrate content of the leaves was very good (60.24 gm/100 gm), with moderate amount of ash (9.68 gm/100gm) and fibre (5.22 gm/100gm). The content of vitamin A was very high (100989 IU) but that for other vitamins (B, C and E) was very low in the dehydrated form. The mineral content showed the presence of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and zinc. The β-sitosterol content of the leaves was estimated to be 0.43 mg/gram of dried powder. The results thus indicate the leaves to be a good source of nutrients essential for the maintenance of health and wellness and can be a good supplement for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis and hence can be incorporated in routine diet. KEYWORDS: Curry leaves, Murraya koenigii, Nutrient composition, Medicinal plants
Figures - uploaded by Mamta Parnami
Author content
All figure content in this area was uploaded by Mamta Parnami
Content may be subject to copyright.
Content uploaded by Mamta Parnami
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Mamta Parnami on Oct 17, 2020
Content may be subject to copyright.
© 2019 JETIR June 2019, Volume 6, Issue 6 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162)
JETIR1908C51
Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org
409
NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF DRIED
CURRY LEAF POWDER
(Murraya koenigii)
Mamta Parnami1 and Kanika Varma2
1 Research Scholar and 2Associate Professor
Department of Home Science, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur
Rajasthan, India.
ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants have long been documented with multiple health benefits and scaling down the risk associated
with non-communicable diseases. Curry leaves (Murraya Koenigii) have a long history of being used as a flavoring
agent in many of South Indian recipes. Documented studies claim the leaves to be a rich source of various nutrients.
However, there is a dearth of research data on the nutrient composition of the leaves in dried form. Sun and shade
dried curry leaves collected from Alwar city; a district in Rajasthan State, India were analyzed for its proximate,
vitamin and mineral composition. The proximate analysis exhibited the dried leaves to contain very less amount of
moisture (5.86%), fat (2.43%) and protein (3.81%). The carbohydrate content of the leaves was very good (60.24
gm/100 gm), with moderate amount of ash (9.68 gm/100gm) and fibre (5.22 gm/100gm). The content of vitamin A
was very high (100989 IU) but that for other vitamins (B, C and E) was very low in the dehydrated form. The
mineral content showed the presence of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and zinc. The β-sitosterol content
of the leaves was estimated to be 0.43 mg/gram of dried powder. The results thus indicate the leaves to be a good
source of nutrients essential for the maintenance of health and wellness and can be a good supplement for
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis and hence can be incorporated in routine diet.
KEYWORDS: Curry leaves, Murraya koenigii, Nutrient composition, Medicinal plants
INTRODUCTION
The Indian subcontinent has been blessed with an array of medicinal plants, with promising nutritive value.
Murraya koenigii (M. koenigii) (L) Spreng belonging to family Rutaceae and commonly known as “curry leaves”
has been presented in review literature as “The Ultimate Cure” for multifarious diseases. The fresh leaves are
reported to have a high nutritional value and are extremely rich in antioxidant vitamins, minerals, carbazole
alkaloids, polyphenols, tannins and saponins [1]. These leaves finds ample use in the south Indian recipes but their
role in north Indian kitchens is so much fringed that it is just used as merely a flavoring agent, and usually discarded
before eating, leaving all of the nutrition in it unutilized. Promotion of curry leaves in a form exhibiting maximum
consumption is the need of the hour. Dried powder form provides a dual benefit of ease of use and longer keeping
quality of the product. There is an insufficiency of review literature on the nutrient content of the leaf in the dried
state. Hence, the present study was planned to determine the proximate, vitamin and mineral composition and the -
sitosterol content of dried curry leaf powder prepared from the plant grown in Alwar city, Rajasthan India.
METHODOLOGY
A huge bunch of Fresh curry leaves were collected from Alwar city, a district in the state of Rajasthan, India in the
month of January. The leaves were identified and authenticated by an Associate professor in the relevant field. The
leaves were sorted to remove the damaged and spoilt parts. They were then washed and rinsed several times in clean
water, to remove all the dust and dirt adhered to it. Once done, these were dried initially for 2-6 hours on rooftop in
sun and then shade dried in a well ventilated room for the next 2-4 days or till done. When the leaves were
completely dried, these were grounded in a mixer to be converted to a fine powder. The sample, thus prepared was
analyzed for proximate composition of moisture, ash, protein, fat and crude fiber content. The parameters
© 2019 JETIR June 2019, Volume 6, Issue 6 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162)
JETIR1908C51
Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org
410
investigated were determined using standard biochemical methods [2]. The mineral content was determined using
AAS, vitamins by HPLC and -sitosterol was analyzed by HPTLC method.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Natural medicinal plants significantly add more value to the nutritional needs of humankind, in that they supply
certain bioactive components, which are lacking in the routine diets and thus can be claimed for multifarious health
benefits, including a reduction in various degenerative diseases. The results of nutrient analysis of the sun and shade
dried curry leaf powder are presented in Table 1, 2 and 3.
Table 1: Proximate composition of dried Curry leaf powder
Nutrient (Test parameter)
Observed Value
Moisture (gm/100gm)
5.86
Total Ash (gm/100gm)
9.68
Crude Fibre (gm/100gm)
5.22
Total Fat (gm/100gm)
2.43
Total Protein (gm/100gm)
3.81
Total Carbohydrate (gm/100gm)
60.24
The proximate values reveal low moisture content of the dried plant leaves, thus ensuring a better keeping quality
and longer shelf life. The leaves were presented with a fair amount of carbohydrate (60.24 gm/100 gm) making it a
good source of the nutrient. The protein content of the leaf however, was found to be low (3.81 gm/100 gm). A loss
in the protein content of sun dried leafy vegetable has been previously demonstrated [3]. A fair amount of fibre
content of the leaves makes it an ideal ingredient for diet in diabetic and heart patients. The total fat content was
also found to be appreciably low which makes it a potential supplement not only for weight loss, but would also
benefit individuals with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases that are suggested low fat diets. Recent studies [4-5],
however display somewhat variable results in terms of the tested variables in the present study. However, a
similarity was found in the crude fibre content of dried curry leaves with the study by Igara et al [4]. Also the total
protein content as analyzed by Uraku and Nwankwo was very much in line with our results [5]. Rest of the
proximate nutrients failed to concord. Since, the mentioned studies were conducted in Nigeria, differences in the
results are apparent.
Table 2: Vitamin content of dried Curry leaf powder
Nutrient (Test parameter)
-Carotene (IU/100gm)
Vitamin C (mg/100gm)
Vitamin E (mg/100gm)
Vitamin B1 (mg/100gm)
Vitamin B2(mg/100gm)
Vitamin B3 (mg/100gm)
Table 2 displays the vitamin content of the dried leaf powder. Overall the figures display a low amount of vitamin
B, C and E with the exception of -Carotene content which was quite high. The presence of these vitamins in the
plant leaf indicates its nutritional and medicinal values.
Table 3: Mineral content of dried Curry leaf powder
Nutrient (Test parameter)
Zinc (mg/100gm)
Sodium (mg/100gm)
Potassium (mg/100gm)
Calcium (mg/100gm)
Magnesium (mg/100gm)
© 2019 JETIR June 2019, Volume 6, Issue 6 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162)
JETIR1908C51
Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org
411
The mineral content of the dried curry leaf powder documented calcium to be present in significant amount (2218
mg), followed by potassium (1235 mg) and magnesium (568 mg) [Table 3]. The high content of calcium makes
these leaves a strong candidate to be used as a calcium supplement, particularly for women in the post menopausal
stage. The leaves can also be claimed to support osmotic balance and bone formation. A study conducted in South
India [6], reported a varied amount of mineral content in dried Murraya koenigii powder from five different places
in north Karnataka. The maximum reported mineral was calcium (68.18-75.97 mg/L), followed by potassium
(16.27-17.57 mg/L) and magnesium (6.8-7.32 mg/L). The high content of calcium detected in curry leaves in the
present study might be due to a very high content of calcium in water supplied in Alwar city, which indirectly gets
into the soil through watering. Also, a fair amount of zinc in the leaves as detected in our results enhances the role
of leaves as an immune booster, particularly in the present times when the whole humanity is at the stake of COVID
19.
The leaves of curry plant have been claimed to contain various phytosterols including β-sitosterol [7]. Laboratory
analysis of β-sitosterol in both the dried and fresh leaf sample was also carried out and the results of the analysis are
presented in Table 4.
Table 4: β-sitosterol content of fresh and dried Curry leaf powder
β-sitosterol (Test parameter)
Result (mg/gm)
Fresh leaves
0.27 mg/gm
Dried powder
0.43 mg/gm
The results regarding the estimation of β-sitosterol indicated 0.43 mg of β-sitosterol in the dried leaf powder, which
was almost double the amount present in fresh forms. The test results though are not in confirmation with that given
recently in IFCT-2017 data for fresh leaves [1]. Indian research studies on β-sitosterol composition of dried curry
leaf powder are however, lacking. Incorporating phytosterols in the diet, to lower the serum levels of various lipids
is not a new concept [8]. The third guidelines of NCEP, recommends incorporating around 2 gm/day of plant sterol
into the diet of individuals with abnormal lipids [9]. Plants sterol consumption of about 2 gm/day has been shown to
reduce LDL-C by 5-15% [10]. These compounds can reduce intestinal uptake of dietary cholesterol, thereby
reducing plasma cholesterol levels [11].
Data regarding the nutrient content of dried curry leaf powder in India are very limited. The results of the present
study can serve as a nutritional data base for further researchers in the same direction. Variation in the concentration
of nutrients from one geographical region to other [6] and from one season to another [12] have been demonstrated
in previous researches. Claims regarding the effect of climatic factors in bringing about a variation in the medicinal
value, nutrient content and levels of bioactive substances have been made in current literature [13]. The results of
nutritional composition of curry leaves, thus suggest a good nutritional value. These leaves could be recommended
as a non expensive and easily available source of plant protein, carbohydrates, fibre, minerals and vitamins
CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study, demonstrates immense nutritional potential of curry leaves. The presence of
phytosterol in the dried leaves advocates the role of the plant as an herbal alternative to reduce high blood
cholesterol levels thus, helping in prevention of heart diseases. The fibre content has an advantage for diabetics to
keep blood sugar levels under control. The -carotene content suggests that the leaves could be recommended for
the teenage girls and young women suffering from malnutrition and the calcium content would benefit women in
© 2019 JETIR June 2019, Volume 6, Issue 6 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162)
JETIR1908C51
Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org
412
menopausal transition stage. It can ardently be incorporated in majority of routine vegetables as a major ingredient
and not just as a spice or flavoring agent.
REFERENCES
[1] Longvah T, Ananthan R, Bhaskarachary K, Venkaiah K. 2017. Indian food composition tables, NIN
(ICMR). Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
[2] AOAC. 2012. Official methods of analysis, Association of official analytical chemist. 19th edition,
Washington D.C., USA.
[3] Hassan SW, Umar RA, Maishanu HM, et al. 2007. The effect of drying methods on nutrient and non nutrient
composition of leaves of Gynandropsis gynandra (Capparaceae). Asian J Biochem; 2: 349-353.
[4] Igara C, Omoboyowa D, Ahuchaogu A, Orji N, Ndukwe M. 2016. Phytochemical and nutritional profile of
Murraya koenigii (Linn) Spreng leaf. J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 5: 7–9.
[5] Uraku AJ, Nwankwo VO. 2015. Phytochemical and Nutritional Composition Analysis of Murraya koenigii
Linn Leaves. British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 6(3): 174-180.
[6] Pattar M, Kerur BR. 2018. Analysis of macro and micro nutrients content in the leaves of Murraya koenigii
(L.) spreng. Int J Res Pharma Sci. 9(1): 140-146.
[7] Gupta S, Paarakh PM, Gavani U. 2009. Isolation of phytoconstituents from the leaves of Murraya koenigii
Linn. J Pharm Res. 281: 1313-1314.
[8] Jenkins DJ, Kendall CW, Marchie A, et al. 2005. Direct comparison of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol-
lowering foods with a statin in hypercholesterolemic participants. Am J Clin Nutr. 81(2): 380-387.
[9] NCEP-ATP-III. 2001. Executive Summary of the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education
Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults
(Adult Treatment Panel III). JAMA. May 16; 285(19): 2486-97.
[10] Demonty I, Ras RT, Van der Knaap HC, et al. 2009. Continuous dose-response relationship of the LDL-
cholesterol-lowering effect of phytosterol intake. J Nutr. 139(2): 271-284.
[11] Lin X, Racette SB, Lefevre M, et al. 2010. The effects of phytosterols present in natural food matrices on
cholesterol metabolism and LDL-cholesterol: a controlled feeding trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 64(12): 1481-1487.
[12] Satyavarapu EM, Sinha PK, Mandal C. 2020. Influence of Geographical and Seasonal Variations on
Carbazole Alkaloids Distribution in Murraya koenigii: Deciding Factor of Its in Vitro and in Vivo Efficacies
against Cancer Cells. Biomed Res Int. Article ID 7821913: 12 pages.
[13] Liu W, Liu J, Yin D, Zhao X. 2015. Influence of ecological factors on the production of active substances in
the anti- cancer plant Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) T. S. Ying. PLoS one. 10(4): e0122981.
... The mixtures were then filtered using Whatman filter papers and the filtrates were then transferred to the respective 100 mL volumetric flasks and the volume of the samples were made up using distilled water. [23][24][25][26][27][28] Dry ashing 5 g of each powder sample was weighed and transferred to the respective crucibles. The crucibles were then placed in a muffle furnace where they were subjected to a temperature of 500ºC for 1 hr. ...
... After that by considering some factors like the wavelength of light: 422.67 nm, slit width: 0.7 nm, oxidant: Air, oxidant flow: 10 L/min and acetylene flow: 2.7 L/min, the calibration curve was prepared. [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] ...
View
... The proximate analysis contributes to the major nutritional profile of any item. Minor differences in the values can be due to differences in the variety of curry leaves used and environmental conditions (Parnami & Varma, 2019). In this study, amounts of Ca, Mg, Zn, K and Na were also determined. ...
... In this study, amounts of Ca, Mg, Zn, K and Na were also determined. These findings were similar to the findings of previous studies (Parnami & Varma, 2019). Curry leaves contain a generous amount of magnesium that also plays a role in the regulation of insulin functioning in the body. ...
Investigating the therapeutic potential of aqueous extraction of curry plant (Murraya koenigi) leaves supplementation for the regulation of blood glucose level in type 2 diabetes mellitus in female human subjects
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2023
  • PAK J PHARM SCI
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. It is spreading around the globe like a pandemic. Major factors behind the development of diabetes can be genetics, environmental factors, dietary choices and obesity. Many medicinal plants have anti-diabetic potential. This study has investigated the anti-diabetic effect of curry leaves extract. This study also investigated the chemical characterization of curry leaves. Phytochemicals including saponins, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols and glycosides were also investigated. Encapsulated 5mg per kg of the body weight and 10mg per kg of the body weight were given to treatment groups I and II. Random blood sugar, fasting blood sugar, and HbA1c of 45 diabetic female adults were measured on the 0-day and 45 th days. All results were analyzed using the two-sample t-test in IBM SPSS Statistics 20. Curry leaves contained moisture (24.1±1.78)%, ash (17.82±2.13)%, nitrogen free extract (36.12±3.52)%, crude protein (8.32±0.83)%, crude fiber (6.98±2.31)% and crude fat (6.87±0.21)%. Mineral analysis showed that magnesium and calcium were major minerals present in curry leaves. Curry leaves extract contained saponins 2.71±0.23, flavonoids 7.84±0.42, tannins 0.91±0.09, glycosides 0.17±0.01, phenols 3.89±0.12, alkaloids 2.01±0.87. These phytochemicals were expressed in mg/100 g of the sample. Curry leaf extract showed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in fasting blood sugar, random blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin in both treatment groups.
View
... According to Kumar et al. (2016) Alternanthera sessilis leaves contained prominent fat content (2.90%) which is less when compared to the present study. Total fat content reported in commonly known leafy vegetable, i.e., Murraya koenigii (2.43%) was also less in comparative study by Parnami and Varma (2019). ...
Nutritional characters and antioxidant activity of some underexploited minor leafy vegetables of Kerala
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2025
Nutritional quality and anti-nutritional aspects of minor leafy vegetables such as Basella, Cnidoscolus and Alternanthera
View
... Similar observations were reported by Sganzerla et al. (2019), as the presence of leaf powders considerably increased the flavonoid content when compared to the control. Both the Malabar bay leaf and the Indian curry leaf are used as flavoring components in many cuisines owing to their rich flavor characteristics (Parnami and Varma, 2019;Thakur et al., 2021). ...
Characterization and qualitative evaluation of cassava starch-chitosan edible food wrap enriched with culinary leaf powders for eco-friendly food packaging applications
Article
  • Jun 2023
  • FOOD SCI TECHNOL INT
Cassava starch-based edible food wraps were prepared by incorporating leaf powder from Indian curry leaf and Malabar bay leaf, reinforced with different (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) wt.% of chitosan. Eleven combinations of films were prepared and their sensory acceptability, physical properties, Fourier-transform infrared spectro-scopic (FTIR) spectrum, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image, were evaluated. The thickness of the films ranged from 0.198 ± 0.12 to 0.372 ± 0.27 mm. Tensile strength was reported to be the highest (40.71 ± 1.21 MPa) in the curry leaf powder incorporated sample. Maximum elongation at break was reported by bay leaf powder incorporated (5.8 ± 1.59%) sample. The Young's modulus values were observed to be increasing along with the concentration of chitosan. Maximum seal strength values were reported by curry leaf powder incorporated film with 0.8% chitosan (2.93 ± 0.22 N/mm). The leaf powder incorporated samples reported a higher flavonoid content compared to the control. The color analysis (L*, a*, b*) of the films was identical to the natural leaf color. The SEM images indicated a rough texture for the leaf powder incorporated films. The FTIR evaluation confirmed the presence of the respective functional groups. The statistical evaluation done by statistical package for social sciences software showed that all the data were significantly different (P ≤ 0.05.). The study demonstrated the potential of incorporation of leaf powder and chitosan to enhance the properties of starch-based edible packaging.
View
A Comprehensive Review of the Health Benefits of Calcium and its Bioavailability from Different Leafy Vegetables
Article
Full-text available
  • Jul 2024
Calcium (Ca) is a beneficial mineral for maintaining different physiological activities and is involved in preventing several diseases in human beings. Regular dietary Ca intake is therefore essential. However, the quantity required varies with different age groups. Various leafy vegetables act as a good source of Ca but some natural or physiological factors like phytate and vitamin D may influence Ca absorption from the Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT) thereby affecting the bioavailability of Ca. Methods like boiling and fermentation can be used to increase the bioavailability of Ca. Understanding Ca bioavailability from leafy vegetables can therefore be helpful for a proper recommendation of dietary Ca supplementation.
View
View
View
effect-of-seasonal-variation-on-the-phytochemical-constituents-of-aegle-marmelos-l-and-murraya-koenigii-lspreng April 2022 8411681927 2515297 (1)
Article
Full-text available
  • Apr 2022
Aegle marmelos and Murraya koenigii are commonly occurring plants in Maharashtra belonging to family Rutaceae .Members of Rutaceae are rich in vitamin C content. Murraya koenigii locally known as curry patta and Aegle marmelos locally known as bael/ kawath is edible and used in various food preparations. They are known to have anti-inammatory, anti-oxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial properties and It was thought necessary to nd out if there was any variation in the phytochemical content ie mainly Vit C and antioxidant activity of these two plants especially in the leaves . It was observed that phytochemical content was higher during monsoon season.
View
Influence of Geographical and Seasonal Variations on Carbazole Alkaloids Distribution in Murraya koenigii : Deciding Factor of Its In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacies against Cancer Cells
Article
Full-text available
Murraya koenigii is a well-known Indian medicinal herb, and a carbazole alkaloid (mahanine) from this plant causes apoptosis in cancer cells. Here, we investigated how seasonal and geographical variations influence carbazole alkaloids composition and medicinal property of this plant against cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Leaflets were collected from various places in different seasons for three years. A mahanine-enriched fraction (MEF) was prepared in two steps using ethanol and water. The best plant was selected based on the highest percent of mahanine. MEF prepared from leaflets of nine different locations showed a different concentration of identified markers (mahanine, mahanimbine, and koenimbine) which exhibited differential reduced metabolic activity against ovarian cancer, mahanine being the best. Our systematic study revealed that mahanine content was highest during September–December. Interestingly, MEF from southern part (tropical zone) exhibited 43 ± 2.5% mahanine compared to 2.7 ± 1.3% in northeastern part (subtropical zone) with five folds higher activity against PA1. Moreover, MEF reduced metabolic activity of sixteen cancer cell lines from nine different origins and significantly reduced tumor mass in lung and ovarian cancer xenograft models. Taken together, this is the first report demonstrating the marker’s content in these leaflets is highly dependent on location/season. A positive correlation between biological activity and mahanine concentration was established in MEF. Such a comprehensive study suggests that the selection of location and suitable season for collection of any plant materials with biologically active stable markers in sufficient quantity play a decisive role in determining the fate of their medicinal property.
View
Analysis of macro and micro nutrients content in the leaves of Murraya koenigii (L.) sprenge
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2018
The macro and micro nutrients content analysis was carried out for leaves of indigenous medicinal plant-Murraya Koenigii (L.) Sprenge collected from different places of North Karnataka region. The leaves of Murraya koenigii (L.) sprenge were digested with Conc. HCl, deionized water and ash (25:25:1:950) and the contents of macro, micro nutrients and harmful heavy meats such as K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mo, Cu, Mn, Zn, Al, V, Cd and Ti were determined by an analytical atomic absorption spectrometry technique. The experimental results confirmed the presences of mineral nutrients which are beneficial to the human body and are within the limit. The heavy metal which are harmful to human body i.e., Cd, Al, within the limit but concentration of Al is absent for the leaves of Shahapur & Kappathgudda. Keywords: Murraya koenigii (L.) sprenge; Macro and Micro nutrients; Atomic absorption spectroscopy
View
Phytochemical and nutritional profile of Murraya Koenigii (Linn) Spreng leaf
Article
Full-text available
  • Aug 2016
Murraya koenigii (Linn) Spreng has been used for flavouring and spicing of food since ancient time. Its medicinal value has also been identified. This work investigated the phytochemical screening, proximate composition, vitamin and mineral contents of the plant leaves using standard procedures. The result of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of the bioactive constituents comprising flavonoid 7.43 ± 0.03%, phenols 4. 25 ± 0.04%, saponins 2.50 ± 0.01%, alkaloids 1.90 ± 0.01%, tannins 0.86 ± 0.02% and glycosides 0.11 ± 0.01%. The proximate composition was found to be as follows; carbohydrate 39.44 ± 0.04%, moisture content 23.42 ± 0.10%, crude fibre 6.30 ± 0.05%, ash content15.60 ± 0.21%, fats 6.48 ± 0.22% and protein 8.38 ± 0.02%. The analysis of the vitamin content showed the presence of vitamin A (β-carotene) 6.04 ± 0.02 mg/100g, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 0.04 ± 0.002 mg/100g, thiamin 0.89 ± 0.01 mg/100g, riboflavin 0.09 ± 0.001mg/100g, niacin 2.73 ± 0.02 mg/100g and vitamin E 0.03mg/100g. The plant leaf was found to contain some important minerals; Calcium 19.75 mg/100g, magnesium 49.06 ± 0.02 mg/100g, sodium 16.50 ± 0.21 mg/100g, potassium and zinc 0.04 ± 0.001 mg/100g each. Curry plant leaves contain some substantial amount of important phytochemicals which possess anti-oxidant properties and some nutritive vitamins and minerals thus supporting its use as medicinal plant and as food flavoring and spicing condiment
View
Phytochemical and Nutritional Composition Analysis of Murraya koenigii Linn Leaves
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2015
Vegetable is an indispensable constituent of human diet that supplies the body with minerals, vitamins and certain hormone precursors, in addition to protein and energy. The phytochemical and proximate analyses of Murraya koenigii Linn leaves were carried out according to methods of AOAC. The plant leaves were assayed for contents of vitamins and mineral elements using spectrophotometric methods. The results of phytochemical analysis revealed that leaves of Murraya koenigii Linn contained high quantities of flavonoids (600.25±0.41), alkaloids (343.34±0.25) and tannins (206.05±7.50) with low levels of saponins (0.03±0.01) and carotenoids (0.10±0.05) all in mg/100 g). The results of proximate analysis showed a low crude fibre content of 1.78±0.51% and carbohydrate content of 1.29±0.01% but a relatively high content of moisture 84.60±1.20%, fats and oils 5.13±0.95%, proteins 3.60±1.29% and ash 3.60±0%. The results of vitamin compositions indicated high levels of vitamin C (815.00±0.81), B3 (215.01±1.67), B2 (25.68±4.86) and B1 (13.34±0.59) with low content of vitamins E (1.08±0.12) and A (2.98±0.26) all in mg/100 g. The mineral elements constituents showed presence of Fe (9. 175 (0.08±0.01) all in mg/100 g. Thus, these mineral concentrations are all below the tolerable levels except Zn (80.67±0.78 mg/100 g) which is 40 mg/day. Despite that this plant contained numerious chemical contituents that have therapeutic effects in the body as well as those that are essential for normal functioning of the body, this research suggest additional phytochemical analysis in way to identify which alkaloids are specifically present in M. Koenigii Linn.
View
Influence of Ecological Factors on the Production of Active Substances in the Anti-Cancer Plant Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) T.S. Ying
Article
Full-text available
The quality of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which plays a very important role in the health system of China, is determined by the active substances produced by the plants. The type, content, and proportion of these substances may vary depending on ecological factors in areas where the plants are grown. Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) T.S. Ying, an endangered plant species with great medical value, was investigated in eight production locations representative of its natural geographical distribution range in China. The correlation between the contents of the active ingredients extracted from the roots and rhizomes of S. hexandrum and the ecological factors were evaluated step-by-step using a series of computational biology methodologies. The results showed that ecological factors had significant effects on the contents but not on the types of the active ingredients in eight production locations. The primary ecological factors influencing the active substances included the annual average precipitation, July mean temperature, frost-free period, sunshine duration, soil pH, soil organic matter, and rapidly available potassium in the soil. The annual average precipitation was the most important determinant factor and was significantly and negatively correlated with the active ingredient contents (P < 0.001). In contrast, organic matter was the most important limiting factor and was significantly and positively correlated with the active substances. These ecological factors caused 98.13% of the total geographical variation of the active ingredient contents. The climate factors contributed more to the active ingredient contents than did the soil factors. It was concluded that from the view of the contents of the secondary metabolites and ecological factors of each growing location, in Jingyuan, Ningxia Province, and Yongdeng, Gansu Province, conditions were favorable to the production of podophyllotoxin and lignans, whereas in Shangri-La, Yunnan Province, and Nyingchi, Tibet, conditions were favorable to the production of quercetin and kaempferol.
View
The Effects of Phytosterols Present in Natural Food Matrices on Cholesterol Metabolism and LDL-Cholesterol: A Controlled Feeding Trial
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2010
Extrinsic phytosterols supplemented to the diet reduce intestinal cholesterol absorption and plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol. However, little is known about their effects on cholesterol metabolism when given in native, unpurified form and in amounts achievable in the diet. The objective of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that intrinsic phytosterols present in unmodified foods alter whole-body cholesterol metabolism. In all, 20 out of 24 subjects completed a randomized, crossover feeding trial wherein all meals were provided by a metabolic kitchen. Each subject consumed two diets for 4 weeks each. The diets differed in phytosterol content (phytosterol-poor diet, 126 mg phytosterols/2000 kcal; phytosterol-abundant diet, 449 mg phytosterols/2000 kcal), but were otherwise matched for nutrient content. Cholesterol absorption and excretion were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after oral administration of stable isotopic tracers. The phytosterol-abundant diet resulted in lower cholesterol absorption (54.2±2.2% (95% confidence interval 50.5%, 57.9%) vs 73.2±1.3% (69.5%, 76.9%), P<0.0001) and 79% higher fecal cholesterol excretion (1322±112 (1083.2, 1483.3) vs 739±97 mg/day (530.1, 930.2), P<0.0001) relative to the phytosterol-poor diet. Plasma lathosterol/cholesterol ratio rose by 82% (from 0.71±0.11 (0.41, 0.96) to 1.29±0.14 μg/mg (0.98, 1.53), P<0.0001). LDL-cholesterol was similar between diets. Intrinsic phytosterols at levels present in a healthy diet are biologically active and have large effects on whole-body cholesterol metabolism not reflected in circulating LDL. More work is needed to assess the effects of phytosterol-mediated fecal cholesterol excretion on coronary heart disease risk in humans.
View
Continuous Dose-Response Relationship of the LDL-Cholesterol-Lowering Effect of Phytosterol Intake
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2008
  • J NUTR
Phytosterols (plant sterols and stanols) are well known for their LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C)-lowering effect. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in adults was performed to establish a continuous dose-response relationship that would allow predicting the LDL-C-lowering efficacy of different phytosterol doses. Eighty-four trials including 141 trial arms were included. A nonlinear equation comprising 2 parameters (the maximal LDL-C lowering and an incremental dose step) was used to describe the dose-response curve. The overall pooled absolute (mmol/L) and relative (%) LDL-C-lowering effects of phytosterols were also assessed with a random effects model. The pooled LDL-C reduction was 0.34 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.36, -0.31) or 8.8% (95% CI: -9.4, -8.3) for a mean daily dose of 2.15 g phytosterols. The impacts of subject baseline characteristics, food formats, type of phytosterols, and study quality on the continuous dose-response curve were determined by regression or subgroup analyses. Higher baseline LDL-C concentrations resulted in greater absolute LDL-C reductions. No significant differences were found between dose-response curves established for plant sterols vs. stanols, fat-based vs. non fat-based food formats and dairy vs. nondairy foods. A larger effect was observed with solid foods than with liquid foods only at high phytosterol doses (>2 g/d). There was a strong tendency (P = 0.054) towards a slightly lower efficacy of single vs. multiple daily intakes of phytosterols. In conclusion, the dose-dependent LDL-C-lowering efficacy of phytosterols incorporated in various food formats was confirmed and equations of the continuous relationship were established to predict the effect of a given phytosterol dose. Further investigations are warranted to investigate the impact of solid vs. liquid food formats and frequency of intake on phytosterol efficacy.
View
Direct comparison of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol-lowering foods with a statin in hypercholesterlemic participants
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2005
3-Hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors reduce serum cholesterol and are increasingly advocated in primary prevention to achieve reductions in LDL cholesterol. Newer dietary approaches combining cholesterol-lowering foods may offer another option, but these approaches have not been compared directly with statins in the same persons. The objective was to compare, in the same subjects, the cholesterol-lowering potential of a dietary portfolio with that of a statin. Thirty-four hyperlipidemic participants underwent all three 1-mo treatments in random order as outpatients: a very-low-saturated-fat diet (control diet), the same diet plus 20 mg lovastatin (statin diet), and a diet high in plant sterols (1.0 g/1000 kcal), soy-protein foods (including soy milks and soy burgers, 21.4 g/1000 kcal), almonds (14 g/1000 kcal), and viscous fibers from oats, barley, psyllium, and the vegetables okra and eggplant (10 g/1000 kcal) (portfolio diets). Fasting blood samples were obtained at 0, 2, and 4 wk. LDL-cholesterol concentrations decreased by 8.5+/-1.9%, 33.3+/-1.9%, and 29.6+/-1.3% after 4 wk of the control, statin, and portfolio diets, respectively. Although the absolute difference between the statin and the portfolio treatments was significant at 4 wk (P=0.013), 9 participants (26%) achieved their lowest LDL-cholesterol concentrations with the portfolio diet. Moreover, the statin (n=27) and the portfolio (n=24) diets did not differ significantly (P=0.288) in their ability to reduce LDL cholesterol below the 3.4-mmol/L primary prevention cutoff. Dietary combinations may not differ in potency from first-generation statins in achieving current lipid goals for primary prevention. They may, therefore, bridge the treatment gap between current therapeutic diets and newer statins.
View
View
Isolation of Phytoconstituents from the leaves of Murraya koenigii Linn
Article
  • Jan 2009
  • JPR
Fractionation of petroleum ether partitioned ethanol extract and crude petroleum ether extract of the leaves of Murraya koenigii Linn(Rutaceae) led to the isolation of 5,8-dimethyl furanocoumarin (1) and 1-al, 3[6’, 6’ dimethyl 5-hexene] carbazole (2) and b-sitosterol (3). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods such as UV, IR, NMR and LCMS. All the compounds were isolated for the first time from this plant.
View