Growth maturity stage defines nutritional, anti-nutrients and functional food aspects of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves
This study evaluates nutritional composition and anti-nutrients profile of Moringa oleifera leaves across different growth stages aimed at identifying optimum harvest time to secure better dietary profile of the leaves. The results showed that physicochemical composition of mature leaves present a s...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Food Chemistry Advances |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772753X25001261 |
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| author | Saima Perveen Saeed Akhtar Dur-e-shahwar Sattar Muhammad Qamar Wisha Saeed Mavra Amin Tariq Ismail |
| author_facet | Saima Perveen Saeed Akhtar Dur-e-shahwar Sattar Muhammad Qamar Wisha Saeed Mavra Amin Tariq Ismail |
| author_sort | Saima Perveen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study evaluates nutritional composition and anti-nutrients profile of Moringa oleifera leaves across different growth stages aimed at identifying optimum harvest time to secure better dietary profile of the leaves. The results showed that physicochemical composition of mature leaves present a significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher level of protein (23.71 %), fiber (28.26 %), and fat (13.26 %) with a relatively lower amount of caloric energy (271.93 kcal) as compared to those observed in tender and young leaves. Progressive reduction (p ≤ 0.05) was noticed in anthocyanin (31.96 to 14.31 mg/100 g), chlorophyll b (72.83 to 45.16 mg/100 g) and lycopene (22.67 to 11.94 mg/100 g) content of M. oleifera leaves with advancing growth stage. Growth stages depicted an increase in the β-carotene and chlorophyll A contents of M. oleifera leaves. Higher phenolics yield and antioxidant activity of the leaves extracts was recorded for methanolic extracts. Advanced stage of leaves maturity anticipated highest level of total phenolics i.e., 49.02 mg GAE/g, total flavonoids content i.e., 52.96 mg QE/g and flavonols (28.83 mg QE/g). Comparatively higher concentrations of alkaloids (2.74 g/100 g), saponin (3.82 g/100 g), oxalates (2.43 g/100 g), tannin (0.837 g/100 g), and phytic acid (1.94 g/100 g) content were recorded in mature leaves. Harvesting M. oleifera leaves at peak maturity enhances their protein, dietary fiber, micronutrient, and phytochemical content. However, mature leaves may also accumulate higher levels of anti-nutrients like oxalates and phytates, which can interfere with mineral absorption. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f1883c36cab847a5a94f0e1a69859dc7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2772-753X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Food Chemistry Advances |
| spelling | doaj-art-f1883c36cab847a5a94f0e1a69859dc72025-08-20T03:45:08ZengElsevierFood Chemistry Advances2772-753X2025-06-01710101010.1016/j.focha.2025.101010Growth maturity stage defines nutritional, anti-nutrients and functional food aspects of Moringa oleifera Lam. leavesSaima Perveen0Saeed Akhtar1Dur-e-shahwar Sattar2Muhammad Qamar3Wisha Saeed4Mavra Amin5Tariq Ismail6Department of Food Science & Technology, Faculty of Food Science & Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, PakistanDepartment of Food Science & Technology, Faculty of Food Science & Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, PakistanDepartment of Food Science & Technology, Faculty of Food Science & Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, PakistanDepartment of Food Science & Technology, Faculty of Food Science & Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, PakistanDepartment of Food Science & Technology, Faculty of Food Science & Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, PakistanDepartment of Food Science & Technology, Faculty of Food Science & Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, PakistanCorresponding author.; Department of Food Science & Technology, Faculty of Food Science & Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, PakistanThis study evaluates nutritional composition and anti-nutrients profile of Moringa oleifera leaves across different growth stages aimed at identifying optimum harvest time to secure better dietary profile of the leaves. The results showed that physicochemical composition of mature leaves present a significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher level of protein (23.71 %), fiber (28.26 %), and fat (13.26 %) with a relatively lower amount of caloric energy (271.93 kcal) as compared to those observed in tender and young leaves. Progressive reduction (p ≤ 0.05) was noticed in anthocyanin (31.96 to 14.31 mg/100 g), chlorophyll b (72.83 to 45.16 mg/100 g) and lycopene (22.67 to 11.94 mg/100 g) content of M. oleifera leaves with advancing growth stage. Growth stages depicted an increase in the β-carotene and chlorophyll A contents of M. oleifera leaves. Higher phenolics yield and antioxidant activity of the leaves extracts was recorded for methanolic extracts. Advanced stage of leaves maturity anticipated highest level of total phenolics i.e., 49.02 mg GAE/g, total flavonoids content i.e., 52.96 mg QE/g and flavonols (28.83 mg QE/g). Comparatively higher concentrations of alkaloids (2.74 g/100 g), saponin (3.82 g/100 g), oxalates (2.43 g/100 g), tannin (0.837 g/100 g), and phytic acid (1.94 g/100 g) content were recorded in mature leaves. Harvesting M. oleifera leaves at peak maturity enhances their protein, dietary fiber, micronutrient, and phytochemical content. However, mature leaves may also accumulate higher levels of anti-nutrients like oxalates and phytates, which can interfere with mineral absorption.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772753X25001261Moringa leavesGrowth maturity stageAnti-nutrientsProteinOxalatesBioactive compounds |
| spellingShingle | Saima Perveen Saeed Akhtar Dur-e-shahwar Sattar Muhammad Qamar Wisha Saeed Mavra Amin Tariq Ismail Growth maturity stage defines nutritional, anti-nutrients and functional food aspects of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves Food Chemistry Advances Moringa leaves Growth maturity stage Anti-nutrients Protein Oxalates Bioactive compounds |
| title | Growth maturity stage defines nutritional, anti-nutrients and functional food aspects of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves |
| title_full | Growth maturity stage defines nutritional, anti-nutrients and functional food aspects of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves |
| title_fullStr | Growth maturity stage defines nutritional, anti-nutrients and functional food aspects of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves |
| title_full_unstemmed | Growth maturity stage defines nutritional, anti-nutrients and functional food aspects of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves |
| title_short | Growth maturity stage defines nutritional, anti-nutrients and functional food aspects of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves |
| title_sort | growth maturity stage defines nutritional anti nutrients and functional food aspects of moringa oleifera lam leaves |
| topic | Moringa leaves Growth maturity stage Anti-nutrients Protein Oxalates Bioactive compounds |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772753X25001261 |
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