Nutritional Value, Mineral Composition, Secondary Metabolites, and Antioxidant Activity of Some Wild Geophyte Sedges and Grasses

Abstract

Geophytes are plants with underground storage organs including bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes, often physiologically active and able to survive during harsh environmental conditions. This study is conducted to assess the nutritive value, mineral composition, bioactive metabolites, and antioxidant activity of five wild geophytes (Cyperus capitatus, C. conglomeratus, Elymus farctus, Lasiurus scindicus, and Panicum turgidum) collected from the Nile Delta coast and inland desert. The proximate composition including dry matter, moisture content, ash content, fiber, fat, protein, sucrose, and glucose were determined. Also, total carbohydrates, total digestible nutrients (TDN), and nutritive values were calculated. Macro- and micro-minerals were also determined in the studied geophytes. Total phenolics, total flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and tannins were determined. Antioxidant activity was evaluated based on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicle scavenging. Based on the nutritive value, the studied geophytes are ranked as follows: E. farctus > C. conglomeratus > L. scindicus > P. turgidum > C. capitatus. The mineral analysis reveals a sufficient amount of macro- and micro-elements in the studied geophytes while the microelements levels in the studied wild plants exist as Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu. Cyperus conglomeratus attained the highest concentrations of all determined secondary metabolites. On the other hand, C. conglomeratus, C. capitatus, and P. turgidum extracts showed strong scavenging activity (EC50 < 1 mg mL−1), while extracts of E. farctus and L. scindicus exhibited moderate scavenging activity (1 ≤ EC50 ≤ 2 mg mL−1). The present data reveal that geophytes under investigation could be used as good forage plants, especially in arid habitats. In addition, C. conglomeratus could be a potentially important candidate for natural antioxidants as it attained high contents of the bioactive constituents.

Proximate Composition, Bioactive Compounds, and Antioxidant Potential of Wild Halophytes Grown in Coastal Salt Marsh Habitats

“…The protein content in H. strobilaceum, L. monopetalum, and L. pruinosum was higher than 10%. This result is in agreement with other reports [ 51 ], but it is higher than those reported by Zahran and El-Amier [ 53 ] and El-Amier and Al-hadithy [ 52 ].…”

“…Salinity stress has been known to trigger the plant metabolism to produce phenolics as a defense mechanism [ 78 ]. This observation has been reported by Al-Rowaily et al [ 51 ], where Cyperus conglomeratus that grow in saline sandy habitats attained the highest content of phenolics and flavonoids, while the grasses Elymus farctus , Lasiurus scindicus , and Panicum turgidum , that grow in sandy habitat attained the lowest content.…”

“…H. strobilaceum attained the highest contents of total soluble sugars (149.51 mg g −1 DW) and sucrose (8.31 mg g −1 DW), while L. monopetalum showed the highest content of glucose (2.65 mg g −1 DW) compared to other species ( Table 2 ). The Carbohydrate content of the studied plants is within the range of other reported species [ 51 ], but higher than values documented by Zahran and El-Amier [ 53 ] and El-Amier and Al-hadithy [ 52 ]. Singha and Hassan [ 58 ] reported that the type of carbohydrates is more important in the diet than eating large or low amounts.…”

“…In addition, halophytes can produce large quantities of other secondary metabolites, including, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, tannins, and other antioxidant compounds [ 91 ]. These bioactive chemicals function as antioxidants, reducing the effects of oxidative stress and scavenging reactive oxygen species [ 51 , 55 , 57 ].…”

Cyperus spp.: A Review on Phytochemical Composition, Biological Activity, and Health-Promoting Effects

“…) collected from the Egyptian coastal desert (Mediterranean coast of the Delta) and the interior desert (Wadi Hagoul). Strong radical scavenging activity with EC 50 < 1 mg/ml assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was reported from the extracts of C. conglomeratus and C. capitatus[92]. An experiment assessing the antioxidant activity of the extracts of Cyperus tegetum Roxb.…”