. Ethnomedicinal, Phytochemical and Nutritional Analysis of Nelumbium nucifera Gaertn Rhizome.

Abstract

The present study aims to evaluate the phytochemical and nutritional analysis of Nelumbium nucifera rhizome from district Charsadda KPK (Pakistan). Descriptive research design was adopted in this study. Study and analyzes were done in Quaid-i-Azam University in Pakistan, in a 3 month time frame. The proximate parameters like ash, crude fat, crude fiber, crude protein, carbohydrates, moisture contents and energy values were analyzed and obtained using Association of Official Analytical Chemists methods. Total phenolic contents was found to be (25.49±1.15) mg GAE/g and (17.6±3.80) mg GAE/g dry extract whereas the total flavonoid contents were found to be (10.84±0.16) mg RUE/g and (6.86±0.76) mg RUE/g in methanol and ethanolic extract respectively. Eventually concentration of moisture (55.3 ±0.80) and carbohydrates (23±0.26%) were detected higher than concentration of fat (3.1±1.67%) and fiber (2.5±0.86%) contents. Results showed that the N. nucifera rhizome has various phytochemicals such as cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponin, tannin, phlobatanins, phenolic compounds and alkaloids. Methanolic extract of N. nucifera rhizome showed the high contents of flavonoids and phenols. Also indicates that rhizome is a good source of carbohydrates and proteins. It possesses significant nutrient properties which give it an advantage of being used in bakery, food production and good experimental system for further researches on renewable resources.