1. Biochemical diversity in <italic>Brassica</italic> leafy greens and sensory evaluation of its <italic>Saag</italic>, an Indian cuisine known for its cancer-preventive properties.
- Author
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Sharma, Sanjula, Devi, Jomika, Sharma, Sonika, and Sardana, Virender
- Abstract
Despite the wide consumption of
Brassica leaves asSaag in North India during the winter season, there is a notable gap in the information regarding the nutritional profile of the available germplasm resources. This study aims to compare the nutritional value and mineral composition of eleven green leafyBrassica accessions of Indian and exotic origin. A significant variation was recorded in health-promoting compounds among the different accessions. The heat map generated through hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) depicts three promising accessions, namely Chinese Sarson, Saag sarson, and KPT 9, which exhibit rich nutritional and antioxidant properties. Additionally, ascorbic acid and total phenols significantly correlated with the antioxidant activity ofBrassica leafy greens. A significant difference in the compositional pattern of key macro-minerals (Ca, Mg, P) and micro-minerals (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn) was noticed in the accessions. Among the eleven accession studied, GSC 7, Saag Sarson and Kangra Brown Sarson 3 exhibited richness in these elements, making them a suitable source for supplying a sizable portion of our daily mineral requirements. Subsequently, theSaag , an Indian cuisine prepared from the leaves of these accessions was subjected to sensory evaluation. The results showed that Chinese Sarson and Saag sarson received the highest consumer acceptance and were greatly appreciated. The information acquired from this study could serve as a valuable reference for the selection of high-quality leafyBrassica varieties for breeding programs aimed at enhancing nutritional value and broadening the genetic base of this important food crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2024
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