In Support to Human Health by Capsicum frutescens, Daucus carota and Pisum sativum

Abstract

In the past decade, research has established that pharmaceutical medicines from plants play an important role in human health care [1]. The incidences of chronic diseases are rapidly increasing in the worldwide. Diet and nutrition are important factor to promoting and maintaining the good health throughout the entire life.  Researchers have been investigating new medically active principle compounds from plants like secondary metabolite. Secondary metabolites such as glycosides and alkaloids are the largest group of chemicals produced by plants [2]. Screening of secondary metabolites reveals the presence of tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, steroids, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, proteins etc., and they have been used as drugs since long in the past.

 Most of the medicinal plants in India are well known for their medicinal importance which has been cultivated for medicinal uses, such as, Tulsi, Amla, Neem, White Siris, Harsingar etc.  All aerial parts of this plant are useful in the treatment of various diseases [3]. Apart from those a number of commonly consumed fruits/vegetables also strongly possesses medicinal properties such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anthelmintic and antioxidant property [4].   A variety of pharmacological and biological effects were confirmed for flavonoids including, antioxidative, superoxide scavenging, enzymes inhibitory, antiviral, anticarcinogenic, anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, anti-cholinesterase, anti-microbial activity and protein binding efficiency in Albizia procera [ 5-8]. 

Correlation between the phyto constituents and the bioactivity of plant is desirable to know for the synthesis of compounds with specific activities to treat various health ailments and chronic diseases as well [9].

The present study is to determine the total phenolic content (TPC) as well as total antioxidant activity (TAA) in three different vegetables “Capsicum frutescens” “Daucus carota” and “Pisum sativum” using two different extraction methods. The extraction process was done by using both decoction extraction method (DEM) and microwave -assisted method (MAE). The total phenolic content (TPC) and total antioxidant activity were determined by Folin- Ciocalteu’s and phosphomolybdate assay respectively and express as equivalent to catechin standard. Results shows that Capsicum frutescens, Pisum sativum Daucus carota possess significant amount of phenolic content, that is from 13.76-8.96 mg/Cg and antioxidant range from 15.91-10.61mg/Cg with microwave- assisted method. According to our findings that Capsicum frutescens (green chili) contains high amount of TPC as well as TAA because of the high probability of Vitamin C.   This work indicates and elaborated the significant linear relationship between   the total phenolic content (TPC) and total antioxidant activity (TAA).  This type of work has been corroborated by recent investigation in flora and fauna that total phenolic was directly correlated with total antioxidant activities which indicate that natural substances such as fruits, vegetables, leaves etc., are the core contributors to antioxidants which are phenolic compounds [10].

This study aims to recognize the importance of antioxidant and their potential health benefits in human body in this Covid era specially. Free radicals are waste substances produces by cells and Antioxidants act as free radicals terminators. They may be reducing or slow the rate of cell damage and many more diseases (including heart or certain cancerous).  If the body cannot remove the free radicals, oxidative stress can result.

There are many Factors which increases the free radicals production in human body slowly, such as pollution, smoking, UV exposure, pesticides, some medicines, packaged foods, artificial sweetener, and many more. It causes the deterioration of health. therefore, it is necessary to increase the intake of natural supplements, through regular vegetables and fruits.

The major source of antioxidants are the foods, such as red grapes, peaches, cranberries, strawberries, cherries, carrots, tomatoes, pumpkins, capsicum, legumes etc.  These include the nutrient, antioxidants, vitamins and the minerals and they can act as pro-oxidants or damaging oxidants. Not only from the kitchen garden they are also found in medicinal plants.  In this Covid period people have understand the importance of antioxidants and vitamin C.  

The ‘average diet’ and geographically diversity in India is therefore likely to be of little relevance from a public health nutrition perspective.  Hence These antioxidants are safe to human, scavenging the free radicals and intake is very approachable. In recent scenario when humans are getting depress, proper intake of antioxidants and vitamin “C” can prevent from depression as well as premature aging. Natural antioxidants either in the form of raw extracts or their chemical constituents are very effective to prevent the destructive processes caused by oxidative stress.   Therefore, these findings may support to the traditional use of foods with microwave as well without destroying the nutrition and for the treatment of many diseases with new therapeutic agents.