Bioavailability of selected phytochemicals in the extracts of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis), tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) and eggplant (Solanum melongena)

  • Authors

    • Madukwe, E. U Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics. Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
    • Nwabunze, A. M Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics. Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
    • Onyibalu, C. L. Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics. Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
    2013-07-02
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijbas.v2i3.1027
  • Abstract

    Background: Enough information about the actual amount of individual phytochemicals in vegetables and the amount absorbed and utilized is not known.

    Objective: This study evaluated flavonoid, saponin and phenol content of aqueous extracts of tomato, fluted pumpkin and eggplant as well as the bioavailability of these phytochemicals in rat.

    Methods: The phytochemical content of the vegetable extracts and the serum, faecal and urinary phytochemicals were determined using standard procedures.

    Result: The flavonoid content of tomato, fluted pumpkin and eggplant extracts were 90.23±0.04mg/100ml, 76.13±0.02mg/100ml and 14.34±0.02mg/100ml, respectively. The eggplant extracts had the highest saponin (73.29±0.46mg/100ml) and phenol (158.14±0.05mg/100ml) content. The rats fed tomato extracts had the highest intake (24.08±0.00mg) and tissue store (21.88±0.04) of flavonoid relative to the other extracts.  The serum saponins for rats fed eggplant (0.25±0.05mg) extract was comparable to those rats fed tomato (0.22±0.04mg) and fluted pumpkin (0.26±0.05mg) extracts regardless of high intake (17.77±0.01mg). However, they had the highest tissue saponin (16.87±0.05mg). The group of rats fed the fluted pumpkin extract had the highest serum phenol (0.49±0.06mg).

    Conclusion: The vegetables can be considered good sources of phytochemical since their extracts were rich in the phytochemical studied.

     

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  • How to Cite

    E. U, M., A. M, N., & C. L., O. (2013). Bioavailability of selected phytochemicals in the extracts of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis), tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) and eggplant (Solanum melongena). International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 2(3), 251-257. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijbas.v2i3.1027

    Received date: 2013-05-31

    Accepted date: 2013-06-13

    Published date: 2013-07-02