Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of Trigonella cariensis seeds

• Published in: Botanica Serbica Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 209 - 216
• Main Authors: Uras, Gungor, Kokdil, Gamze
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Belgrade 01-01-2022
• Subjects: amino acid; chemical composition; cuprac; dpph; fatty acid; trigonella cariensis
• DOI: 10.2298/BOTSERB2202209U
• EISSN: 1821-2638
• ISSN: 1821-2158

The genus Trigonella (Fabaceae) has been widely used for both culinary and
clinical purposes since ancient times. The aim of this study was to
investigate the chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant activities of
Trigonella cariensis seeds for the first time. The seeds were collected in
the province of Mersin, Turkey. Chemical analyses were performed using
chromatographic methods. Fatty acid, tocopherol and sterol analyses were
done on hexane extracts and amino acid and mineral analyses were also
carried out on the seeds. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were
measured by using the Folin-Ciocalteu and Al(NO3)3 methods and in vitro
antioxidant activity was evaluated via different chemical assays including
1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazily (DPPH?), cupric reducing antioxidant power
(CUPRAC) and 2,2?-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulphonate (ABTS?+) on
its 80% methanolic extract. The seeds were shown to contain mainly linoleic,
?-linolenic and oleic acids (43.74?0.24%, 18.38?0.45%, and 10.89?0.71%,
respectively). The seeds showed high ?-tocopherol content (233.54?2.48
mg/100 g). The main sterols were ?-sitosterol, delta-5-avenasterol and
campesterol. Na, K, Ca, P, and Mg were the predominant minerals, while
glutamic acid, aspartic acid and lysine (5801?0.15, 3629?0.12 and
2062?0.03 mg/100 g, respectively) were determined as the major amino acids
in the seeds. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 3.34?0.02 mg
GAE/g seed and 0.96?0.09 mg QE/g seed, respectively. The results of the
ABTS?+, DPPH? and CUPRAC methods were 43.22?3.14%, 31.15?1.79% and
9.67?0.78 mM AAE/g, respectively. In conclusion, T. cariensis seeds provide
nutritional value with a good source of polyunsaturated fatty acids,
?-tocopherol, ?-sitosterol, some amino acids and minerals and medicinal
properties with total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant
activities.