Nutritive Analysis of Fresh and Dry Fruits of Morinda Tinctoria
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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2013) 2(3):65-74 ISSN: 2319-7692 Volume 2 Number 3 (2013) pp.65 74 http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article Nutritive analysis of fresh and dry fruits of Morinda tinctoria V.Anuradha1*, A.Praveena2 and K.P.Sanjayan2 1*Department of Biochemistry, Mohammed Sathak College of Arts and Science, Sholinganallur.Chennai-600113, Tamil Nadu, India. 2Department of Zoology, Gurunanak College, Chennai-42, Tamil Nadu, India. *Corresponding author: [email protected] A B S T R A C T Fruits are generally acceptable as good source of nutrient and supplement for food in a world faced with problem of food scarcity. They are known to be K e y w o r d s excellent source of nutrients such as minerals and vitamins. The present investigation aimed to assess the nutritional value of ripened fruits of a Morinda popularly known medicinal plant Morinda tinctoria. The present study is tinctoria; focused on the estimation of Ash content, Protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and nutritional mineral content of Morinda tinctoria fruit. The difference in nutritional content; content between fresh and dried fruits were also assessed. The ash content is Vitamins; 4% and 1.6% for fresh and dry fruits respectively. The fresh fruit is rich in Minerals. protein and carbohydrate than the dry fruit. The fresh fruit is rich in Ascorbic acid and Niacin whereas the dry fruit showed the presence of Riboflavin and Thiamine in high concentration. The dry fruit is rich in calcium whereas the fresh fruit is rich in both iron and copper. Both the fresh and dry fruits showed complete absence of phosphorous. Thus, the Morinda tinctoria fruits could be used as a source of protein, vitamin and minerals. Introduction in developing countries where the traditional herbal medicine plays a major Plants are the reservoirs of a large number role in health care and in the treatment of of imperative organic compounds and they many infectious diseases. The rural have long been used as the sources of population of a country is more disposed medicines. In order to face the problem of to traditional ways of treatment because of food scarcity, fruits can be utilized for the its easy availability and cheaper cost. Noni good source of nutrients and food is native from Southeast Asia to Australia supplements. Fruits are commonly well and is cultivated in Polynesia, India, the known for the excellent source of nutrients Caribbean, Central and northern South such as minerals and vitamins; and also America (Dixon et al., 1999; Ross, 2001). contain carbohydrates in form of soluble The Polynesians have been using the noni sugars, cellulose and starch (Nahar et al., plant for food and medicinal purposes for 1990).Dependence on plants is prevalent more than 2000 years (Earle, 2001). In 65 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2013) 2(3):65-74 traditional pharmacopoeia, the fruit is countries, but also in the United States, claimed to prevent and cure several Japan and Europe. In response to this diseases. It is primarily used to stimulate demand, some countries such as Costa the immune system and thus to fight Rica and Cambodia, have increased the bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal fields being cultivated in noni. In these infections; it is also used to prevent the countries, the fruit is often commercialized formation and proliferation of tumors, fresh or as juice in both formal and including malignant ones (Dixon et al., informal markets, but it is also found as 1999; Earle, 2001). pasteurized juice, either pure or mixed with other juices (usually grape or The species of Morinda especially M. blackberry). Morinda citrifolia fruit has citrifolia has been reported to have a broad long history of use as a food in tropical range of health benefits for cancer, regions throughout the world. infection, arthritis, asthma, hypertension, Documentation of the consumption of the and pain (Whistler, 1992). The leaves, fruit as a food source precedes the seeds, bark , fruits and roots of Noni have twentieth century. Captain James Cook of been used in various topical remedies in the British Navy noted in the late 1700 s South Pacific Islands and South East Asia that the fruit was eaten in Tahiti. In 1866 (Wang et al., 2002; Fygh-Berman, 2003). publication in London explained that M. Noni juice is also claimed to relieve citrifolia fruit was consumed as a food in inflammation. Most noni is consumed as the Fiji Islands. Later publications juice, although leaves, flowers, bark and described the use of this fruit throughout roots can also be used (Dixon et al., 1999; the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Earle, 2001; McClatchey, 2002). It is Australia and India. Noni is commonly reported to have antibacterial, anti fungal, referred to the species M. citirfolia and is analgesic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory also called as Indian Mulberry. It is also and immune enhancing effects (Mc known in different names locally as Clatchy, 2002; Wang et al., 2002; Cheese Fruit. Mathivanan et al., 2005). Noni has recently been the object of many claims Morinda tinctoria, commonly known as concerning its nutraceutic properties. Aal or Indian Mulberry is a species of Various publications have shown that noni flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae, can be used to relieve different diseases, native to southern Asia. It is an evergreen and its registered uses span the Pacific and shrub or small tree growing to 5-10 m tall. Asia, as well as Africa. The leaves are 15-25 cm long, oblong to lanceolate. The flowers are tubular, white, Two clinical studies reported a relief of scented, about 2 cm long. The fruit is a arthritis and diabetes associated with noni green syncarp, 2-2.5 cm diameter. consumption (Elkins, 1998; Solomon, Morinda are distributed throughout 1999), the observed beneficial effects may Tamilnadu and Kerala. However, the result from certain compounds such as species M. tinctoria is present abundantly scopoletin, nitric oxide, alkaloids and in most parts of Tamilnadu and in some sterols, and also to the antioxidant parts of Kerala. It is commercially known potential of noni. As a result of this as Nunaa and is indigenous to tropical reputation, consumption of this fruit is countries. MTR is considered as an currently high, not only in the producing important folklore medicine. 66 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2013) 2(3):65-74 Medicinal plants provide about 80% drugs Estimation of Protein worldwide. Medicinal value of the plant is due to presence of a variety of Grind 2g of sample (Morinda tinctoria phytochemical and elemental composition. fresh fruit and dry powder) in a pestle and Therefore, it is essential to investigate the mortar with 10ml of distilled water and phytoconstituents, elements and vitamin centrifuge 4000rpm for 10mins. Then 1ml supplements present in the medicinal plant of supernatant was made upto 100ml with to assess their medicinal values. The distilled water. The amount of protein was complete physico-chemical composition of estimated by the method of Lowry et al the fruit has not yet been reported and only using BSA as the standard. partial information is available on noni juice. In view of its medicinal importance, Estimation of carbohydrate the present study has been initiated to evaluate the nutritive potential of fresh and 1g of both samples (Morinta tinctoria dried fruits of Morinda tinctoria. fresh fruit and dry powder) were weighed and taken in a boiling test tube. To this Materials and Methods 1ml of 6N hydrochloric acid was added and hydrolyzed by keeping it in a boiling The fresh fruits from wild Morinda water bath and cooled. The solution was tinctoria plant were collected from vacant neutralized by adding solid sodium open area at Kadambattur, Tiruvallur carbonate until effervescence was stopped. district, Chennai, Tamilnadu. The The solution was filtered and made upto procedures were carried out on the same 100ml using distilled water. The total day for the analysis in fresh fruit whereas carbohydrate was estimated by Anthrone the fruits were shade dried for 10-15 days method using glucose as the standard. and powdered for the analysis of dry fruit. All the reagents used in this study were of Estimation of Niacin analytical grade. Grind the samples (5g) in 4N H2SO4 Determination of Ash content (30ml) and steam it for 30 minutes. Cool and make up to 50ml with distilled water According to the method 100g of each and filter through whattman No % filter sample was weighed in a silica crussible. paper. Add 60% basic lead acetate to 10ml The crusible was heated in a muffle of the filtrate. Adjust the pH to 9.5 with a furnace for about 3-5 hrs at 600 C. It was pH meter or thymol blue indicator or using cooled in a dessicator and weighed to 10N sodium hydroxide. The contents were completion of ashing. To ensure centrifuged. To the supernatant add 2ml of completion of ashing, it was heated again concentrated sulphuric acid and allowed to in the furnace for ½ an hour more, cooled stand for 1 hour. Centrifuge and collect the and weighed. This was repeated supernatant for estimation. In to a series of consequently till the weight become test tubes pipette out 0.1 to 0.5 ml of the constant weight of ash. The ash content standard niacin solution with concentration was calculated by the following formula: range 10 to 50 mg. 0.5ml of test solution was pipetted out in tubes marked T . Then Ash % = weight of ashed sample /weight make up the volume to 6ml with distilled of sample taken × 100 water alone serves a blank. Then 3ml of 67 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2013) 2(3):65-74 cyanogen bromide was added in all the 0.5ml of 15% potassium permanganate tubes.