MSc

One of the most popular food groups consumed globally is starchy roots
and tuber crops. They provide a diverse range of beneficial nutrients and health
advantages as well as add variety to the diet. Worldwide, the primary root and
tuber crops occupy around 53.93 million hectares and generate 736.747 million
tonnes of production annually. In order to combat food and nutritional insecurity,
the present agricultural system must be diversified, and alternative food and feed
sources must be sought. Underutilized varieties of certain indigenous crops,
particularly tuber crops, may play an essential role in such circumstances.
Many indigenous starchy tubers crops still need to be thoroughly
researched for their nutritional and health potentials. One such yam species, aerial
yams, commonly called Adathappu in Kerala, was once commonly cultivated in
Kerala for use as food and medicine. But due to the widespread availability of
other commercially dominating tuber crops, it has since lost its prominence.
Hence, the current study, "Value addition and quality evaluation of aerial
yam (Dioscorea bulbifera L.)," emphasized evaluating the physicochemical
characteristics, bioactive compounds, and therapeutic potential of aerial yam. The
study also analysed aerial yam’s suitability for product development with the goal
of enhancing nutrition security by utilizing underexplored local food sources.
The starch and moisture levels of the aerial yam were found to be
23.80 ± 0.69 g/100g and 67.99 ± 0.77 %, respectively. There were 72.50 ± 0.88 g,
5.01 ± 0.04 g, and 0.31 ± 0.04 % of the macronutrients like carbohydrates,
protein, and fat in 100g of aerial yam. The aerial yam detected a crude fiber
content of 3.05 ± 0.05 g/100 g. The aerial yam's vitamin C and total ash content
were determined to be 3.04 ± 0.05 mg and 1.96 ± 0.34 % per 100 g, respectively.
According to the study (100 g) aerial yams contain 535.90 ± 3.96 mg of
calcium, 12.96 ± 0.46 mg of iron, 52.40 ± 0.94 mg of phosphorus, and
111.280 ± 4.08 mg/100g of potassium. The aerial yam's in vitro starch
digestibility was 53.37 %. Calcium, iron, and phosphorus were available in
vitro at 31.47 ± 0.86 %, 64.09 ± 0.94 %, and 59.22 ± 0.73 %, respectively. The
amount of tannin, a potent antioxidant secondary metabolite, in aerial yams was
high (56.0 ± 0.89 mg/100g). The phytate and oxalate contents of the aerial yam
were 5.85 ± 0.47 mg and 11 ± 0.54 mg per 100 g, respectively. The cooked aerial
yam's organoleptic aspects were evaluated and found to be acceptable.
A great diversity of bioactive compounds with many therapeutic
properties were identified by high-resolution liquid chromatography of the
methanolic extract of the aerial yam. With the use of in silico molecular docking,
the therapeutic potential of the aerial yam in managing various diseases was
investigated. Following successful molecular docking, ADMET analysis was
performed on all the compounds. Further, the yam extracts were also found to
have antioxidant, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory potential. The
glycaemic index of the yam was found to be 49.53%. Hence, it can be classified
as moderate glycaemic food.
It was found that by blanching the yams for 3 minutes, followed by
dipping in 1% KMS for 15 minutes and drying is the most suitable pretreatment
for preparing organoleptically acceptable flour. The selected flour's physicofunctional characteristics were assessed, and product recovery, oil absorption
capacity and bulk density was found to be 50.86, 1.15, and 0.42. Further, the
selected yam flour was kept in polyethylene bags of 250 gauge for storage studies
and was found to be shelf stable for up to 3 months.
Crackers were successfully developed by incorporating 40% of selected
aerial yam flour, wheat flour, and other flavour ingredients. The present study
found aerial yam to be a good source of various primary metabolites, including
calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, and crude fiber. Further, in silico and in
vitro studies have validated the yam’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative potential. Promoting underutilized tubers can also be an excellent
alternative for tackling problems like nutritional and food security problems.