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AbstractErythrina stricta Roxb., an underutilized legume species native to the Indian subcontinent, is traditionally employed in various medicinal applications. This study systematically examines the nutritional quality, encompassing proximate and mineral composition of E. stricta seeds, with a focus on characterizing the seed oil. The seeds exhibit commendable proximate composition, with 26.81% protein and 18.71% fibre. Noteworthy mineral elements include 5.0 mg/g DW of calcium and 787.0, 32.7, 36.8 and 497.0 µg/g of iron, copper, boron and zinc, respectively. The seeds yield 13.43% oil, with oleic, palmitic, linoleic and stearic acids as prominent fatty acids, constituting 48.82%, 20.63%, 20.27% and 6.47%, respectively. Antinutrients such as oxalate and phytate are present in concentrations of 26.85 and 16.04 mg/g FW, respectively. In conclusion, this study underscores E. stricta seeds as a robust source of both nutrients and oil, warranting further exploration and consideration for potential applications.

Ginkgo biloba is an ancient plant that has survived up until the present day. Gingko biloba is a rich source of valuable secondary metabolites, particularly terpene trilactones (TTLs) such as ginkgolides and bilobalides, which are obtained from the leaves and seeds of the plant. TTLs have pharmacological properties, including anticancer, anti-dementia, antidepressant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, antiplatelet, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective effects. However, ginkgo is a very-slow-growing tree that takes approximately 30 years to reach maturity. In addition, the accumulation of TTLs in these plants is affected by age, sex, and seasonal and geographical variations. Therefore, plant cell cultures have been established in ginkgo to produce TTLs. Extensive investigations have been conducted to optimize the culture media, growth regulators, nutrients, immobilization, elicitation, and precursor-feeding strategies for the production of TTLs in vitro. In addition, metabolic engineering and synthetic biology methods have been used for the heterologous production of TTLs. In this review, we present the research strategies applied to cell cultures for the production of TTLs.

Ficus drupacea is a fruit-bearing tree that is distributed in Southeast Asia and Australia. The objective of this research was to ascertain the following with regard to ripened fruits: (i) their nutritional value, (ii) their mineral status, (iii) the fatty acid composition of fruit and seed oil, (iv) their phytochemical makeup, and (v) their antioxidant properties. The ripened fruits contained 3.21%, 3.25%, 0.92%, 1.47%, and 2.20% carbohydrate, protein, fat, ash, and fiber, respectively. Fruits had an energy content of 30.18 kcal/100 g. In terms of mineral content, the fruit was rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium, and nitrogen, with values of 21.03, 13.24, 11.07, and 4.13 mg/g DW. Iron, zinc, manganese, and boron had values of 686.67, 124.33, 114.40, and 35.78 µg/g DW, respectively. The contents of oxalate and phytate were 14.44 and 2.8 mg/g FW, respectively. The fruit and seed oil content were 0.67 and 8.07%, respectively, and the oil’s physicochemical properties were comparable to those of fig fruit and seed oils. Omega-3 (α-linolenic acid), omega-6 (linoleic acid), and omega-9 (oleic acid) fatty acids were abundant in the oils. Fruit extracts in acetone, methanol, and water have greater concentrations of phenolics, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, total antioxidant activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays demonstrated increased antioxidant activities in close correlation with the higher concentrations of phenolics, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The results of this study demonstrate that the fruits of F. drupacea are a strong source of nutrients and phytochemicals, and they merit more investigation and thought for possible uses.

The present study focuses on the nutritional, phytochemical composition, and antioxidant activities of the fruits of Rourea minor (Gaertn.) Alston., an underutilized plant species. The ripened seeds contained 0.28%, 12.39%, 25.70%, 1.4%, and 3.4% of fat, protein, carbohydrate, ash, and fiber, respectively, whereas ripened pulp possessed 0.19%, 0.34%, 0.90%, 0.35%, and 0.98% of fat, protein, carbohydrates, ash, and fiber, respectively. The ripened seed and pulp were also rich in mineral elements and especially microelements. The pulp, when ripe, had high levels of microelements such as boron, iron, zinc, copper, and manganese with values of 25.98, 2523.56, 499.12, 33.62, and 40.30 µg/g DW, respectively. Phytate and oxalate content were comparatively higher in ripened seeds (6.91 and 31.88 mg/g FW) than in the pulp. Acetone, absolute methanol, water, and 70% methanol were used for the extraction of phytochemicals, and 70% methanol extract contained the highest phytochemicals. The total phenolic, flavonoid, and alkaloid content of unripe seeds was 180.47 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/DW, 68.95 quercetin equivalent (QE)/g DW, and 0.35 atropine equivalent (AE)/g DW, respectively, and that of unripe pulp was 8.21 mg GAE/g DW, 2.97 mg QE/g DW and 1.20 mg AE/g DW, respectively. All the extracts showed remarkable antioxidant activity, proved by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, following a similar trend to the phytochemical composition. The study concludes that Rourea minor fruits, both seeds, and pulp, could be an excellent source of nutrients, microelements, and antioxidants.

The seed kernel of Balanites roxburghii Planch., an underutilized species, yields a substantial amount of oil and has an impressive fatty acid profile. Both seed cake and seed oil have the potential to be rich nutritive sources. With this view, in the present study, nutritive profiling of seed kernel and seed oil including HPLC quantification of tocopherols and phytosterols has been done. Further, the total phenolic content and antioxidant activities of seed kernel and oil have also been analyzed. The seed kernel showed good proximate composition with 43.20% of oil and 10.96% of protein with a good amount of macro- and microelements. The seed oil possesses 5.36 mg/kg of carotenoids and 7.29, 1.79, and 0.72 mg/100 g of α, β + γ (together), and δ-tocopherols, respectively. The β-Sitosterol is the major phytosterol in the oil with 126.90 mg/100 g oil followed by stigmasterol and campesterol together (40.78 mg/100 g oil). It is also rich in squalene (17.45 mg/100 g oil). Oleic acid (56.38%), linoleic acid (18.77%), and palmitic acid (17.79%) were found to be the major fatty acids. Seed cake and seed oil possess significant antioxidant activities with 2.72 mg Gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g and 8.90 mg GAE/100 g total phenolic content, respectively. Even though seed kernels contain some amount of anti-nutritional factors, they can be minimized by practicing appropriate food processing techniques. Considering all these facts, such as availability, good quality oil, proteins, and elemental composition, seeds of B. roxburghii could be considered a reliable food source to increase the food base of people and to get a variety of nutrients.

Many underutilized tree species are good sources of food, fodder and possible therapeutic agents. Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile belongs to the Zygophyllaceae family and is popularly known as “desert date”, reflecting its edible fruits. This tree grows naturally in Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. Local inhabitants use fruits, leaves, roots, stem and root bark of the species for the treatment of various ailments. Several research studies demonstrate that extracts and phytochemicals isolated from desert date display antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective and molluscicidal activities. Mesocarp of fruits, seeds, leaves, stem and root bark are rich sources of saponins. These tissues are also rich in phenolic acids, flavonoids, coumarins, alkaloids and polysterols. Some constituents show antioxidant, anticancer and antidiabetic properties. The objective of this review is to summarize studies on diverse bioactive compounds and the beneficial properties of B. aegyptiaca.