NUTRITIONAL AND ANTI NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF Acorus calamus L. RHIZOME.

Acorus calamus, a medicinal herb occasionally planted in the home gardens and often found as garden escape in Kuttanad wetlands of Kerala, India and its rhizome was investigated for its nutritional and antinutritional properties. Proximate composition, mineral profiles, vitamins, total free amino acids, in vitro protein digestibility, calorific value and certain anti nutritional factors like phenol, tannin, phytic acid, trypsin inhibitory and haemaglutinin assay were analysed. The results of proximate analysis revealed the presence of high moisture (68.02 %) and ash (17.3 %) and protein (15.62 %) contents. The carbohydrate (37.26 %), crude lipid (0.00057 %), crude fiber (6.6 %) contents and vitamins (ascorbic acid, beta carotene and tocopherol) were found in appreciable quantity. The total energy value was estimated at 121.65 Kcal/100 g and total free amino acid content was 25.71 µg/500mg. Mineral analyses recorded highest value for Potassium (K) and the lowest value for Phosphorus (P). The other elements like Sodium (Na), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) were also found in sufficient amount. The rhizome was also found to contain anti-nutritional factors such as tannins (0.32 µg/g), phytic acid (935.43 mg/100g), phenols (113.68 µg/g) and trypsin inhibitor unit (3.02 mg/g). The results of the present investigation revealed the presence of essential nutrients and also certain antinutritional factors in the rhizome of A. calamus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]