Bathua Nutritional Analysis

3. Results and discussion
3.1 Nutritional analysis
In the present study, the potential benefits were shown by nutritional attributes of dried bathua (Table1). Moisture content and dry matter analysis, reporting during nutritional analysis is very important because it directly affects the nutritional content of vegetable. The moisture content was quite low (5.06%) which may be advantageous in view of increasing the sample’s shelf life. Bathua was found to be rich in carbohydrates (40.84%). There was an appreciable amount of protein (28.69 % by weight) making it a good source of protein, while its fiber content is less. There is evidence that dietary fiber has a number of beneficial effects related to its indigestibility in the small intestine[30].
In PE extract of bathua, many saturated fatty acids: Hexadecanoic acid (used in cosmetics, soaps, antioxidant), Octadecanoic acid (softening agent; in soaps and shampoos), Heptadecanoic acid, Tetradecanoic acid (cosmetic usage), Nonanoic acid, Octadecane, Eicosane, gamma-Tocopherol (anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective) and vitamin E were found. The presence of phytol, stigmasterol and campesterol in PE extract which are well known for their medical, cosmetic, and functional food applications, may contribute towards the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. They are also known for their saturated fat reducing and cholesterol lowering activity and thus, may reduce the risk of heart diseases[38]. Phytol can be used as a precursor for manufacturing synthetic forms of vitamin E and vitamin K. Phytol is also used in various industries like fragrance, cosmetics, shampoos, toilet soaps, household cleaners, and detergents. In MIX extract, Hexadecanoic acid, Silicic acid (has the ability to reduce aluminium uptake as well as cause renal excretion of aluminium), Thujone (used in perfumery and has menthol odor) were
Agar well diffusion method was used to assess the activity against the bacteria by measuring zone of inhibition. Inhibiting concentrations used for all the extracts was 500 mg/ml. Methanolic extract of C. album was found to be most active among all other extracts and inhibits Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli. The extract of a mixture of solvents was also found to be effective in inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus. Methanolic extract of C. album was found to give a most clear zone of inhibition. The antibacterial activity is attributed to the phenolic content present in the sample extract. The samples which had higher phenolic content were found to be better at inhibiting the growth of bacteria, hence giving zone of clearance of greater diameter. The zone of clearance or zone of inhibition of different extracts of C. album against various bacterial growths is listed in the Table