Jashbir Singh

Lycopene content, antioxidant capacity and colour attributes of selected watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Mansfeld) cultivars grown in India

The present investigation reports variability in lycopene, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, antioxidant capacity and colour attributes of 12 watermelon cultivars grown in India. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated using four in vitro assays, namely ferric reducing antioxidant power, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl. Among watermelon cultivars, significant differences (p < 0.05) were found with respect to lycopene content and antioxidant capacity. Lycopene content ranged from 03.46 to 8.00 mg/100 g fresh weight. Colour of watermelon flesh was described by an optimized colour index (CI). Cultivars ‘PWM25-4’, ‘Arun’, ‘Kiran’ and ‘Kareena’ were found to be the most promising ones with highest lycopene content, antioxidant capacity and CI. Results indicate that watermelon is a good source of dietary lycopene and there exists significant variation that can be exploited to produce high-quality cultivars.

Capsaicinoids, Tocopherol, and Sterols Content in Chili (Capsicum sp.) by Gas Chromatographic-Mass Spectrometric Determination

A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed for the quantitative determination of capsaicinoids, vitamin E, and phytosterols in chili peppers using a simple extraction technique for rapid screening. These components were extracted with acetonitrile and were injected into gas chromatography attached with mass spectrometry. The mean recovery values for triplicate analysis were between 90.6–99.7%. Besides major capsaicinoids (capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin), four more minor capsaicinoids (nonivamide, nornordihydrocapsaicin, homodihydrocapsaicin I and II) were detected in chili samples. α-Tocopherol was also detected in the same run along with three phytosterols (campesterol, γ-sitosterol, and stigmasterol). Variations were observed across the chili sample in all of the constituents except a few minor capsaicinoids. The method was suitable for simultaneous estimation of capsaicinoids, vitamin E, and phytosterols in a single run from any types of pepper. Thus, the method is effective for rapid screening of peppers for its nutraceutical composition using single solvent extraction.

Compositional and functional difference in cumin (Cuminum cyminum) essential oil extracted by hydrodistillation and SCFE

Abstract Essential oils were obtained from same raw material of cumin seed by extraction with hydrodistillation and super critical fluid extraction (SCFE). For SCFE, supercritical carbon dioxide at 45°C and 100 bar was used as variable for the extraction. The composition of the extracts was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Yield of essential oil was more in the SCFE method. Extract obtained by supercritical fluid extraction technique using CO2 was heavier than the hydrodistilled volatile oil. Cumin oil obtained by hydrodistillation contained higher percentage of cuminaldehyde (52.6%), then did oil obtained by SCFE (37.3%), whereas cumin oil obtained by hydrodistillation had the lower percentage of cuminic alcohol (13.3%) as compared to 19.3% in SCFE method. However, cuminal (2-caren-10-al) content was almost similar in cumin oil obtained by the SCFE and hydrodistillation method (24.5–25.8%). Hydrodistilled volatile oil showed better antioxidant activity measured by DPPH and FRAP assay and more total phenol content. The results indicated that though essential oil yield was more in the SCFE method, antioxidant property was more in conventional hydrodistillation method. SCFE extracted non polar (wax materials) compounds along with volatile oil and it was recorded that enhanced aroma of signature compounds of cumin.