1. KAUTIR (Kerala Agricultural University Theses Information and Retrieval)

The present study entitled was undertaken with the objective of studying the physico-chemical, phytochemical and antioxidant properties, anti-nutritional factors and bioactive compounds of selected ornamental flowers viz., red hibiscus (both single and double), I. coccinea, I. singaporensis, R. damascena, marigold (T. erecta and T. patula), N. nucifera, N. rubra and C. sulphureus. The physico-chemical properties such as moisture, protein, fat, fibre, vitamin C, total ash and mineral contents (sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus and potassium) of the selected flowers were ascertained. Moisture content ranged from 45.51 (C. sulphureus) to 87.53 per cent (N. rubra). Protein content ranged between 2.03 (I. singaporensis) to 11.79 per cent (T. patula). Fat content of the ornamental flowers varied from 0.77 (single typed red hibiscus) to 10.77 per cent (T. erecta). The mean fibre content varied between 9.66 (single typed red hibiscus) to 20.00 (N. nucifera) per cent in the flowers. Ascorbic acid content of the ornamental flowers was observed to be in the range of 58.93 (T. patula) to 154.13 mg/100 g of DW (R. damascena). Total ash content of ornamental flowers studied ranged from 2.83 (N. rubra and C. sulphureus) to 10.00 per cent (N. nucifera). Sodium content of ornamental flowers ranged from 13.83 (double typed red hibiscus) to 16.23 mg/100 g of dry weight (single typed red hibiscus). Magnesium content varied from 5.61 (T. erecta) to 12.89 mg/100 g (single typed red hibiscus) in the flowers studied. Calcium content was in the range of 6.84 (R. damascena) to 31.24 mg per 100 g of DW (N. nucifera). Iron content of flowers ranged from 0.43 (R. damascena) to 2.31 mg/100 g (T. patula). Phosphorus content of the ornamental flowers ranged from 7.80 (I. coccinea) to 22.40 mg/100 g DW (T. patula). The mean potassium content varied from 40.86 (R. damascena) to 104.66 mg/100 g (N. nucifera). Phytochemicals in ornamental flowers such as carotenoids, anthocyanins, total flavonoids and phenols were also estimated. Total carotenoid content of the ornamental flowers ranged from 0.20 (R. damascena) to 8.13 mg per 100 g of DW (T. erecta). Anthocyanin content of ornamental flowers was in the range of 6.56 (T. erecta) to 187.43 mg/100 g (R. damascena). Flavonoid content ranged between 33.33 (N. nucifera) to 104.16 mg/100 g of DW (T. erecta). Phenol content of the ornamental flowers varied between 6.52 (R. damascena) to 49.80 mg/100 g of DW (C. sulphureus). Quantitative estimation of anti-nutritional factors such as tannin, oxalates and nitrates were done in the selected ornamental flowers. Tannin content of ornamental flowers ranged between 8.50 (N. nucifera) to 53.10 mg/100 g (R. damascena). Oxalate content was found to vary from 23.23 (N. nucifera) to 687.30 mg per 100 g of DW (single typed red hibiscus) of the flowers. Nitrate content varied between 6.30 (T. erecta) to 201.03 mg per 100 g DW (C. sulphureus) of the flowers. Free radical scavenging activity of the ten ornamental flowers was studied using DPPH and ABTS assays. Value of the DPPH assay ranged from 38.26 (R. damascena) to 269.32 µg/ml (double typed red hibiscus). ABTS radical scavenging activity ranged from 47.92 (R. damascena) to 738.60 µg/ml (T. patula). Estimation of physicochemical, phytochemical, anti-nutritional and antioxidant properties and bioactive compounds of the selected ornamental flowers revealed that the petals of N. nucifera recorded maximum fibre (20.00 %), total ash (10.00 %), magnesium (11.49 mg), calcium (31.24 mg) and potassium (104.66 mg) contents per 100 g DW with minimum anti-nutritional constituents such as tannins (8.50 mg) and oxalates (23.23 mg). T. patula recorded highest protein (11.79 %), fat (10.43 mg), sodium (15.30 mg), magnesium (10.61 mg), iron (2.31 mg), phosphorus (22.40 mg), potassium (79.40 mg) and flavonoid (101.00 mg) contents per 100 g DW but with lowest antioxidant properties in DPPH (257.57 µg/ml) ABTS (738.60 µg/ml) assay. Highest content of fat (10.77 mg), sodium (15.86 mg), carotenoids (8.13 mg) and flavonoids (104.16 mg) with lowest nitrate (6.30 mg) values per 100 g DW were noticed in T. erecta. R. damascena registered maximum sodium (15.23 mg), vitamin C (154.13 mg), anthocyanins (187.43 mg/100 g DW) and antioxidant properties in DPPH (38.26 µg/ml) as well as ABTS (47.92 µg/ml) assay, but having high tannin content (53.10 mg) per 100 g DW. H. rosa-sinensis (single) showed highest quantity of sodium (16.23 mg), magnesium (12.89 mg) and anthocyanins (184.82 mg) but with maximum oxalate content (687.30 mg) per 100 g DW. H. rosasinensis (double) showed highest quantity of magnesium (11.30 mg) and anthocyanins (186.63 mg) per 100 g DW but with least antioxidant property (269.32 µg/ml) as revealed in the DPPH assay. Petals of N. rubra registered maximum moisture content (87.53 %) and antioxidant properties in DPPH assay (47.04 µg/ml) with lowest nitrate (7.73 g) content per 100 g of DW. Cosmos recorded highest quantity of sodium (14.80 mg), iron (1.85 mg) and phenols (49.80 mg) but with maximum quantity nitrates (201.03 mg) per 100 g DW. I. coccinea recorded maximum sodium content (15.43 mg/100 g DW) among the ornamental flowers tested. GC-MS analysis of ten ornamental flowers revealed the various compounds present in its methanol extracts. Flowers of I. singaporensis contained more compounds (18) compared to rest of the flowers. The most abundant compound in I. singaporensis was (1R, 3R, 4R, 5R)-(-)-Quinic acid (70.60 %) whereas in I. coccinea, it was stigmast-5-en-3-ol, 3.beta (45.33 %). The most abundant compound in C. sulphureus was benzene, 1-chloro4-methoxy- (34.22 %) while in T. erecta -amyrin (42.37 %). Damask rose and red water lily contained eight compounds each. The most prevalent compound in Damask rose was 1, 2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (37.74 %) whereas in red water lily, it was heptacosane (44.27 %). Flowers of both single and double petalled hibiscus were found to contain seven -amyrin (83.41 %) was found in single petalled red hibiscus while 9-octadecenoic acid, 12-(acetyloxy) (25.56 %) and 9-octadecadienoic acid (25.51 %) were the most abundant in double petalled red hibiscus. Six different compounds were found in methanol extracts of both sacred lotus and T. patula. Most abundant compounds in the flower extracts of lotus were 9, 12, octadecadien-1-ol (34.74 %) and 9-octadecenoic acid, 12-(acetyloxy)-, methyl ester, [r-(z)]- (22.70 %). The predominant compound in T. patula was vitamin E (59.67 %). The present study revealed that the selected ornamental flowers are having nutritional value with high antioxidant properties and low anti-nutritional contents. The GC-MS analysis of ornamental flowers showed that they contained a variety of beneficial compounds that can act as nematicide, pesticide, anti-cancerous, antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. Some compounds identified in this study were reported to have anti-xanthine oxidase and anti-tyrosinase potentials. The compounds identified in the flowers could be used for the development of novel drugs also.

The present study entitled “Effect of pre-treatment on seed germination and shade on seedling growth and yield of Mucuna pruriens (l.) DC.” was carried out in College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Trichur during the period of 2005-2007. In the first phase, graded and selected seeds were subjected to 10 different pre-treatment methods and sown in two conditions viz, polybag and nursery bed. In both the cases scarification on dorsal surface gave highest germination per cent and germination energy. Various biometric parameters like height, collar diameter and number of leaves in various treatments under polybag and nursery bed conditions were observed. Biomass produced at nursery stage was also estimated; it is evident from the study that seedlings produced from scarification treatments was most superior for all traits in both polybag and nursery bed. In the second phase, to evaluate yield under different shade situations, selected seedlings were planted out in 25 per cent, 50 per cent, 75 per cent and open situations. Various reproductive characters, yield parameters, and nutrient status were studied, in which early flowering, more number of flower bud production, and higher pod formation was observed in full light situation. The Highest seed yield and biomass production was observed when grown under open condition followed by 25 per cent and least was in 75 per cent or highest shade condition. The nutrient accumulation under different shade was estimated. Nitrogen concentration in leaf and twig was more in case of full shade followed by seedlings grown in 50 per cent shade, whereas for roots concentration of nitrogen under 75 per cent and 50 per cent shade was observed to be non-significant. In case of leaf phosphorus content, highest concentration was seen in seedlings grown under 25 per cent shade followed by seedlings in open condition. Phosphorus content in twigs was highest in 25 per cent and least in 50 per cent. In root, maximum concentration of phosphorous was observed in open condition. Highest potassium content was in 75 per cent shade followed by 50 per cent, and there was no variation in leaf potassium content in plants grown under open condition and 25 per cent shade level. Root potassium content under 50 per cent and 75 per cent was similar and higher than other two treatments.

1. KAUTIR (Kerala Agricultural University Theses Information and Retrieval)

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