1. Chemical Composition, Nutritional Value, and Biological Evaluation of Tunisian Okra Pods ( Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench).
- Author
-
Romdhane MH, Chahdoura H, Barros L, Dias MI, Carvalho Gomes Corrêa R, Morales P, Ciudad-Mulero MFH, Flamini GCFR, Majdoub H, and Ferreira ICFR
- Subjects
- Dietary Fiber analysis, Glucosides chemistry, Humans, Monoterpenes chemistry, Nutritive Value, Plant Extracts chemistry, Quercetin analogs & derivatives, Quercetin chemistry, Sesquiterpenes chemistry, Abelmoschus chemistry, Antioxidants chemistry, Nutrition Assessment, Phenols chemistry
- Abstract
The aim of this work was to perform an unprecedented in-depth study on the bioactive phytochemicals of Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench Tunisian landrace (Marsaouia). For this purpose, its nutritional, aroma volatile, and phenolic profiles were characterized, and sundry biological activities were assessed in vitro. The approximate composition revealed that total dietary fiber as the most abundant macronutrient, mainly insoluble dietary fiber, followed by total carbohydrates and proteins. In addition, okra pods were rich in K, Ca, Mg, organic acids, tocopherols, and chlorophylls. Gas Chromatography-Electron Impact Mass Spectrometry (GC-EIMS) analysis showed that oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, and phenylpropanoids were the predominant essential volatile components in A. esculentus pods. A total of eight flavonols were detected by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to a DAD detector and mass spectrometry by electrospray ionization (HPLC-DAD-MS/ESI); with quercetin-3- O -glucoside being the majority phenolic component, followed by quercetin- O -pentosyl-hexoside and quercetin-dihexoside. This pioneering study, evidences that Tunisian okra display promising antioxidant and cytotoxic actions, in addition to relevant inhibitory effects against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes, and interesting analgesic activity.
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF