Submit

Full Research Article

Nutritional Composition of Cassia Auriculata Flowers

Jyotirmayee Sahoo1,*, Pallavi Kumari2, Debjani Das3, Usha Singh1
1Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Community Science, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur, Pusa-848 125, Bihar, India.
2UNICEF CF Project, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur, Pusa- 848 125, Bihar, India.
3Department of Food and Nutrition, Post Graduate and Research Center, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad-500 030, Telangana, India.

ABSTRACT

Background: Medicinal plants were used for traditional treatments in curing numerous human diseases since thousands of years in many parts of the world. In rural areas of the developing countries, many plants are used as the primary source of medicine. Cassia auriculata L. is one type of plant which provides health and nutrition promoting compounds in human diet. The present experiment was carried out at Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Community Science, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur, Bihar during the year 2021-2022 to analyze different nutritional parameters of Cassia auriculata flowers by using standard methods.

Methods: To analyze different nutritional parameters of Cassia auriculata flowers by using standard methods during the year 2021-2022.

Result: The result showed the total antioxidant content of Cassia auriculata flowers were found to be high i.e., 553.5 µg/100 g, the flavonoids and total phenols content of Cassia auriculata flowers were 310 mg of QE/100 gm and 265.12 mg of GAE/100 gm and the high amount of antinutrient such as, oxalates (64.55 mg/100 g), phytates (28.70 mg/100 g) and tannin (1.92 Mg TAE/100 g) also present. It was also rich in physico-chemical properties such as moisture (12.37%), protein (10.54%), ash (7.15%), iron (190.50 mg/kg), fiber (2.08%) and zinc (18.35 mg/kg). Due to their nutritional quality, it is used for the treatment of urinary tract disorders, conjunctivitis, pain and liver diseases etc.

INTRODUCTION

In many parts of the world medicinal plants were used for traditional treatments in curing of numerous human diseases since thousands of years. Many plants are used as the primary source of medicine in rural areas of the developing countries, (Chitme et al., 2003) and in developing countries about 80% of the population use traditional medicines for their healthcare (Kim et al., 2005). There are many natural products derived from medicinal plants which has proven to be an abundant source of biologically active compounds, many of which have been the basis for the development of new lead chemicals for pharmaceuticals.

There are many types of medicinal herbs which has been used in our daily life, in view of the fact, that the plant derived medicines are considered to be safe and effective. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 80% of the world ‘s population use herbal medicines in all aspects of primary health care needs (Gurib-Fakim, 2006).

Cassia auriculata L. (Family: Caesalpiniaceae) is a bush with giant bright yellow flowers, found growing wild in central and western Asian nations and cultivated in alternative areas of the country. This basically cures tumors, skin diseases; asthma and leaves were used for anthelmintic, ulcers, diarrhea and Hansen’s disease. The flowers were utilized in the treatment of urinary discharge, diabetes and infectious disease. The foremost parts of C. auriculata are additionally used in beverages i.e., Kalpa seasoning tea that has been widely consumed by individuals suffering from diabetes, constipation and tract diseases. An alternate preparation for polygenic disorder medication was avarai panchaga choornam made from dried and powdered plant components (equal quantity of leaves, roots, flowers, bark and unripe fruits) and unremarkably used for ophthalmic, conjunctivitis, diabetes and urinary infections (Khader et al., 2017).

Hence the present study was conducted to determine and characterize the chemical constituents present in Cassia auriculata flowers by using qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques.
 
 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Procurement of raw materials
 
Cassia auriculata flowers (Fig 1 and Fig 2) were procured from Professor Jayasanker Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad and the open fields of villages in and around Hyderabad. The experiment was carried out at Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Community Science, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur, Bihar during the year 2021-2022.

Fig 1: Cassia auriculata tree.



​

Fig 2: Cassia auriculata flowers.



Washing and cleaning of Cassia auriculata flowers
 
Initially the selected flowers Cassia auriculata were properly cleaned and washed under tap water, were presented in Fig 3 and Fig 4.

​

Fig 3: Fresh Cassia auriculata flowers.



​

Fig 4: Cassia auriculata flowers after cleaning.


 
Blanching of Cassia auriculata flowers
 
Petals of the Cassia auriculata flowers were blanched (Fig 5) for 2 minutes in hot water to soften the petals. In blanching petals were heat treated at 85°C and brightened the color of petals.
 
​

Fig 5: Blanching of Cassia auriculata flowers.



Drying of Cassia auriculata flowers
 
Blanched petals were strained through stainless steel strainer. After that in cabinet dryer, blanched flowers (2 mins) were spread over perforated aluminum trays and dried using hot air at 105°C for 10-14 hrs. The details were presented in Fig 6.

​

Fig 6: Drying of Cassia auriculata flowers.


 
Storage
 
Dried Cassia auriculata flowers were stored in zip lock covers and kept at room temperature (Fig 7) to determine and characterize the chemical constituents present in Cassia auriculata flowers.

​

Fig 7: Packing and storage of dried Cassia auriculata flowers.


 
Nutritional and chemical properties of dried cassia auriculata flowers
 
Dried Cassia auriculata flowers were analyzed for the nutritional quality characteristics such as moisture (AOAC,  2005), protein (AOAC, 2005), fiber (AOAC, 1995), ash (AOAC 2005) and Iron (AOAC, 1990), Zinc (Poitevin et al., 2009) and Antioxidants activity (Nayak et al., 2013), phenolics (Slinkard and Slingleton 1997), total flavonoid (Meda et al., 2005), tannin (Kavitha and Indira, 2016), oxalates (Naik et al., 2014) and phytates (Wheeler and Ferrel, 1971) using standard methods.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Cassia auriculata flowers were analyzed for nutritional composition by using standard methods. Details were presented in Table 1 and Fig 8-10.

Table 1: Nutritional composition of standardized Cassia auriculata flowers.



Fig 8: Mineral Content of Cassia auriculata flowers.



Fig 9: Antioxidant value of Cassia auriculata flowers.



Fig 10: Antinutrient value of Cassia auriculata flowers.



The moisture content of Cassia auriculata flowers were 12.37%. The moisture content of Cassia auriculata flowers plays a significant role in the flow and other mechanical properties of the food. However, it is depending largely on the method, extent of drying and the humidity in the surrounding atmosphere. The protein content Cassia auriculata flowers were 10.54% which had indicated a good source of protein which would require for dietary supplementation, the ash content present in the Cassia auriculata flowers was 7.15% whereas ash is the inorganic residue remaining after the water and organic matter has been removed by the food, which has showed an indication of good amount of minerals and the fiber content of Cassia auriculata flowers was 2.08%. The mineral content i.e., zinc (18.35 mg/kg) and Iron (190.50 mg/kg) were also found to be high in Cassia auriculata flowers, which would be helping in managing micronutrient deficiencies.

The total antioxidant content of Cassia auriculata flowers were found to be high i.e., 553.5 µg/100 g, the flavonoids and total phenols content of Cassia auriculata flowers were 310 mg of QE/100 gm and 265.12 mg of GAE/100 gm. Ashok et al. (2015) was studied inhibitor activity of flowers of senna or Cassia auriculata (Linn.) using Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay and Cassia auriculata flowers showed most antioxidant activity in all assay systems due to higher phenolics and flavonoids content. Antioxidants plays a critical role in physiological functions of liver, digestive system, kidney and prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Hence Cassia auriculata flowers can be used as good antioxidant.

The anti-nutrients were also analyzed and Phytates content was 28.70 mg/100 g, oxalates 64.55 mg/100 g and tannin 1.92 Mg TAE/100 g. But these can be removed in all processing treatments.

CONCLUSION

From the findings of Cassia auriculata flowers it can be concluded that as natural sources of antioxidants and nutrients and it can be utilized in the treatment of diseases which have free-radical origin and as a substitute for artificial medication or development of value-added products.

Conflict of interest

None

REFERENCES


  1. AOAC. (1995). Official Methods of Analysis for Fiber. 14th Edition. Washington, DC.

  2. AOAC. (2005). Official Methods of Analysis for Ash in. 18th Ed. Edition. Arlington VA 2209, USA. 

  3. AOAC. (2005). Official Methods of Analysis for Moisture in Flour.18th Edition. Arlington VA 2209, USA.  

  4. AOAC. (2005). Official Methods of Analysis for Protein. 18th Ed. Arlington VA 2209, USA. 

  5. AOAC. (1990). Official Methods of Analysis for Minerals. Association of Official Analytical Chemists. 14th Edition. Washington, DC.

  6. Chitme, H.R., Chandra, R and Kaushik, S. (2003). Studies on anti- diarrheal activity of Calotropis gigantean R.Br. in experimental animals. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 7: 70-75.

  7. Gurib-Fakim, A. (2006). Review-Medicinal plants: Tradition of yesterday and drug tomorrow. Molecular Aspects of Medicine. 27: 1-93.

  8. Ashok, J.P., Harish, P.H., Prasad, W.V. and Ashok, W.P. (2015). Comparative assessment of antioxidant potential of cassia auriculata (linn.) Flower, leaf and seed methanolic extracts. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 7(9): 381-385.

  9. Kavitha, C.C and Indira, G. (2016). Quantitative estimation of total phenolic, flavonoids, tannin and chlorophyll content of leaves of Strobilanthes Kunthiana (Neelakurinji). Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies. 4(4): 282-286.

  10. Kim, H.S. (2005). Do not put too much value on conventional medicines. Journal of Ethnopharmocology. 100(2): 37-39.

  11. Khader, S.Z.A., Ahmeda, S.S.Z., Balasubramanianb, S.K., Arunachalamc, T.K., Kannappand, G., Mahboobe, M.R., Ponnusamya, P. and Ramesha, K. (2017). Modulatory effect of dianthrone rich alcoholic flower extract of Cassia auriculata L. on experimental diabetes. Integrative Medicine Research. 131-140.

  12. Nayak, B., Liu, R. and Tang, J. (2013). Effect of Processing on Phenolic Antioxidants of Fruits, Vegetables and Grains- A Review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 55(7): 887-919. 

  13. Naik, V.V., Patil, N.S., Aparadh, V.T and Karadge, B.A. (2014). Methodology in Determination of Oxalic Acid in Plant Tissue: A Comparative Approach. Journal of Global Trends in Pharmaceutical Sciences. 5(2): 1662-1672.

  14. Poitevin, E., Nicolas, M., Graveleau, L., Richoz, J. andrey, D. and Monard, F. (2009). Improvement of AOAC official method 984.27 for the determination of nine nutritional elements in food products by inductively coupled plasma-atomic absorption spectroscopy after microwave digestion: single -laboratory validation and ring trial. International Journal of AOAC. 92: 1484-518.

  15. Meda, A., Lamicn, C.E., Romito, M., Millogo, J. and Nacoulma, O.G. (2005). Determination of the total phenolic, flavonoid and proline contents in Burkina fasan honey, as well as their radical scavenging activity. Food Chemistry. 91: 571-577.

  16. Slinkard, K. and Singleton, V.L. (1997). Total phenol analyses: Automation and Comparison with Manual Methods. Am. J. Enol. Vitic. 28: 49-55.

  17. Wheeler, E.L and Ferrel, R.E. (1971). A Method for Phytic Acid Determination in Wheat and Wheat Fractions. Cereal Chemistry. 48: 312-320.
Reviewed By

Download Article
In this Article
    Contact us
    Follow us

    Editorial Board

    View all (0)