Abstract

NUTRACEUTICAL STUDY OF NYMPHAEA AMPLA (SALISB) DC: AN UNDERUTILISED AQUATIC PLANT FROM DEEPOR BEEL (RAMSER SITE) OF ASSAM, INDIA

Aniruddha Sarma*, Pramod Medhi and Chandan Deka

ABSTRACT

Nymphaea ampla, under the family Nymphaeaceae, is a freshwater flowering plant. The corms of this aquatic plant were collected and subjected to nutritional investigation. The phyto-chemical constituents like total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity were investigated quantitatively. The presence of secondary metabolites supports its medicinal values. The antioxidant activities were analyzed using DPPH scavenging assay. Total phenolic contents and total flavonoid contents were found 102±0.06 μgGAE/mg, 25.67±0.02 μgQE/mg from dry powdered samples respectively. Total phenolic contents, flavanoid content and ascorbic acid were correlated with the antioxidant activities. Results obtainedfor the proximate analysis of nutritional composition values for ash 7.4±0.02%, crude fat 1.82±0.01%, soluble crude protein 6.13±0.03%, crude fiber 5.5±0.05%, carbohydrate 24.05±0.02% and ascorbic acid 70.17±0.07mg/100g. Micro-nutrient like calcium, iron and zinc were 0.2, 1.03 and 0.02 μg/g dry matters respectively. The high crude fiber, crude protein and carbohydrate content together with substantial amount of mineral like Calcium, iron and zinc support its nutritional importance.

Keywords: Nymphaea ampla, white water lily, nutraceutical study, Ramser site Assam.