Plant seeds as source of nutrients and phytochemicals for the Indian population

Abstract

Plant seeds are major sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds for human beings and vary across different locations. In addition, they are under used foods that could be a good complement for the daily nutrition of people. Therefore, the aim of this study was the analysis of different physical parameters, nutrients and bioactive compounds of 60 plant seeds belonging to 48 species and 9 families. The seeds were collected in 2016-2017 in the Raipur area, India (21.25°N 81.63°E), from three different locations. Fat, protein, starch, total polyphenols and mineral contents ranged from 0.7 to 44.2, 1.6 to 68.5, 11.3 to 84.0, 0.01 to 3.85 and 0.67 to 4.91 g/100 g (dry weight) respectively. Regarding physical properties, the heavier seeds were covered with thick testa over the range of 3.0 to 40% of the seed mass. Higher moisture and ash fractions for the starchy (cereal and pulses) and weed seeds were also found. The most abundant mineral elements in the seeds were P, S, K, Mg, Ca, Fe and Zn. Finally, it was calculated the contribution of the consumption of seeds to the daily macronutrients and micronutrients intake for Indian population, reaching up to 38, 13 and 25% for proteins, fat and carbohydrates respectively.

Seeds as Potential Sources of Phenolic Compounds and Minerals for the Indian Population

“…The mineral content varied from 687 to 7904 mg/100 g ( Figure 2 ). Although these values are generally in line with those previously reported [ 25 , 29 , 52 ], there are seeds with the largest mineral content exceeding by up to 3000 mg the limit of 4913 mg/100 g found in that paper; this could be related with the lower number of seeds analyzed in that study (60 species vs. 155 species in the current paper) and also related with the botanical nature of seeds. In ref.…”

“…Breonia chinensis). These values are in line with those reported by Cervera-Mata et al [ 29 ], although in that paper, the highest masses were obtained for Cicer arietinum , Phaseolus vulgaris , Arachis hypogaea and Caesalpina crista . The mean mass values of the seeds from herbs ( n = 57), shrubs ( n = 14), vines ( n = 20) and trees ( n = 64) were 125, 556, 1264 and 1629 mg/seed, respectively.…”

“…The moisture and ash contents of the studied seeds were in the 1.0–35.5% and 1.0–7.8% ranges, respectively ( Table 1 ). These results are in line with those of other Indian seeds [ 29 ]. In fact, moisture and ash content of Sesamum indicum seeds were similar to those reported for sesame seeds from Turkey, Sudan and Nigeria [ 30 ].…”

“…The concentrations of total polyphenols and flavonoids in the seeds from the 155 species ( Table 1 ) varied from 182 to 5000 mg/100 g and from 110 to 4465 mg/100 g, respectively, with a Flavonoid/Total phenolic compounds ratio ranging from 0.05 to 0.95, which is similar to the ratio previously described for other Indian seeds [ 29 ]. The highest levels of total phenolic compounds (at least twice the mean value, 2784 mg/100 g) were identified in the seeds from Stevia rebaudiana , Bixa orellana , Momordica charantia , Solena amplexicaulis , Shorea robusta , Diospyros melanoxylon , Caesalpinia pulcherrima , Hardwickia binata , Pterocarpus marsupium , Melia azedarach , Syzygium cumini , Argemone mexicana , Papaver somniferum , Passiflora foetida , Bridelia retusa , Nigella sativa , Murraya koenigii and Sesamum radiatum .…”

“…Out of the 155 species studied, 81 had measurable seed coats, whose fractions varied from 4.0% to 95%, with the highest value having been found for Phyllanthus emblica . Such values are larger than those previously reported [ 29 ], since the coat fractions analyzed in that paper never exceeded 40%. The moisture and ash contents of the studied seeds were in the 1.0–35.5% and 1.0–7.8% ranges, respectively ( Table 1 ).…”