Chemical analysis, nutritional content and antioxidant property of <em>Eulophia</em> <em>herbacea </em> Lindl<em>.</em> tubers: a medicinally versatile Indian tribal nutritional food supplement

Abstract

In the present study, chemical compositions, nutritional evaluation and antioxidant activity of orchid <em>, Eulophia herbacea</em> Lindl. tubers were investigated. Nutritional analysis was confirmed by presence of vitamins, amino acids, minerals, glucomannan and protein. The phenolic, flavonoid, proanthocynidin, and saponin content were also determined. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by DPPH, reducing power, nitric oxide radical scavenging and total antioxidant capacity. The total caloric value was corresponded to 2742 Kcal/kg. HPTLC analysis of various amino acids revealed the presence alanine, threonine, serine and aminobuteric acid whereas HPLC quantify 2.84 & 0.22 µg/mL of ascorbic acid and pyridoxine respectively in tubers. The result indicated that <em>E. herbacea </em> contains polyphenolic compounds with good antioxidant properties. Thus <em>Eulophia herbacea</em> has a potential for developing value-added nutritional food products and could be used for the future therapeutic medicine as bioactive compound.