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Nutritional analysis and antioxidant activity of palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) seed embryo for potential use as food source

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Abstract

The present study was carried out with ungerminated seed embryos of palmryah to evaluate nutritional quality with respect to minerals and fiber components, total phenols, and antioxidant properties. It is found to be good source of carbohydrate, fiber, fat, amino acids, and protein. Analysis of macro and micronutrient composition showed potent source of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron. In vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by different assays, including 2,2-diphenylpicryl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, 2,2′azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid) disodium salt (ABTS·+) assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, phospomolybdenum reduction assay, metal chelating activity, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. The results indicate that this plant seed embryo possesses micro, macro nutrients and antioxidant properties and has nutraceuticals potential for the treatment of malnutrition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bioprospecting Laboratory, Department of Botany, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India

    Karuppusamy Arunachalam, Shanmugam Saravanan & Thangaraj Parimelazhagan

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  1. Karuppusamy Arunachalam
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  2. Shanmugam Saravanan
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  3. Thangaraj Parimelazhagan
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Correspondence to Thangaraj Parimelazhagan.

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Arunachalam, K., Saravanan, S. & Parimelazhagan, T. Nutritional analysis and antioxidant activity of palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) seed embryo for potential use as food source. Food Sci Biotechnol 20, 143–149 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-011-0020-y

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