Edible flowers of India as alternate source of high quantity of lycopene

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Short Communications | Published:

Print ISSN : 0970-4078.
Online ISSN : 2229-4473.
Website:www.vegetosindia.org
Pub Email: contact@vegetosindia.org
Doi: 10.1007/s42535-022-00559-0
First Page: 433
Last Page: 437
Views: 444


Keywords: Lycopene, Edible flowers, Ash gourd (Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.), Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), Harshringar (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.)


Abstract


Ash gourd (Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.), pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) and night-flowering jasmine or Harshringar (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.) have edible flowers with brilliant orange to yellow pigmentation. Ash gourd and pumpkin flowers are available for a big stretch of the year all over the country. Harshringar though available for a shorter period, can be easily sun dried and stored. This study has proved the presence of lycopene for the first time, in these flowers which can be an alternative dietary source. Lycopene content of these flowers ranged from 0.34 to 4.83 mg per 100 g of flower petals. All the three flowers are part of eastern Indian cuisine and consumed occasionally. Consumption of these more frequently by people who has the access to these flowers will fulfil the requirement of lycopene in the diet at a cheaper rate and provide the therapeutic benefit to the consumer.


Lycopene, Edible flowers, Ash gourd (Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.), Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), Harshringar (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.)


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Acknowledgements


The authors are thankful to Sharda University, Greater Noida for providing lab facility.


Author Information


Majumder S.
Department of Botany, School of Life Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, India
shahanamajumder@gmail.com
Mishra Neha
Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India


Vikrant
Department of Botany, School of Life Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, India