Abstract. Keywords: Biochemical estimation; Metabolites; Cucumis callosus; Citrullus Colocynthis; Luffa acutangula; Protein; Lipid.

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1 International Journal of Applied Agricultural Research ISSN Volume 5 Number 3 (2010) pp Research India Publications Protein and Oil Quantification from Less Explored Arid Cucurbits - Cucumis Callosus (Rottle.), Citrullus Colocynthis (L.) and Luffa Acutangula (L.) Roxb Payal Singh Soam *, Tribhuwan Singh and Rekha Vijayvergia Plant Pathology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur , India * payalsinghsoam@yahoo.co.in Abstract In present study, biochemical estimation of metabolites is done to explore potential of some less explored cucurbits, as the family Cucurbitaceae is a major family which provides fruits and vegetables which are of great nutritional value and medicinal importance thus serve as boon to health. The study deals with Cucumis callosus (Rottle.), Citrullus colocynthis (L.) and Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb. In laboratory estimation of primary metabolites of these, it is found that protein (180, 268 and 231 mg/gdw, respectively) and lipid (248, 246 and 227 mg/gdw, respectively) contents is higher in seeds of all three plants. Maximum amount of Phenol was estimated in stems of L. acutangula (6.9 mg/gdw), C. callosus (6.29 mg/gdw), and leaves of C. colocynthis (6.37mg/gdw). Keywords: Biochemical estimation; Metabolites; Cucumis callosus; Citrullus Colocynthis; Luffa acutangula; Protein; Lipid. Introduction Non-conventional foods including fruits, leaves and grains consumed in various parts of the Indian subcontinent were analysed for their nutritional value. Many communities living close to nature like the tribals have acquired unique knowledge about the properties and uses of wild plants, most of which are not known to the outside world[1] Many of the plants that are used by the local people of the country

2 350 Payal Singh Soam et al have great nutritional value, find mention in ancient medicinal literature and are also used in different medicinal systems such as, the Ayurveda and Unani. For example Citrullus colocynthis that is used by the tribal people of Rajasthan for curing rheumatism and leucoderma finds mention in Ayurveda for curing the same diseases. It is one of the main ingredients of Narayan Churna and Sukhvirechani vati the ayurvedic medicines. In Unani system of medicine it is used for curing kala-azar [2]. Aim of this work is to explore potential of some less explored cucurbit as the Cucurbitaceae is a major fruits and vegetables producing family which are of great medicinal importance and serve as boon to health. Culture and use of cucurbits or squashes have been traced to more than 10,000 years ago. Although still not widely used by the food industry, squashes are consumed worldwide. Fruits are consumed as vegetables or dessert (pie) and seeds as nuts and, to a lesser extent, as cooking oil [3]. Because of their resistance to drought and the high protein (23 35%) and oil (25 55%) contents of their seeds, cucurbits have attracted the attention of many growers and plant breeders within the past 50 years[4]. This peace of work consist study of metabolites of Cucumis callosus (Rottle.), Citrullus colocynthis (L.) and Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb. which all are member of Cucurbitaceae. Materials and Methods For the quantitative estimation of primary metabolites of mature plants (leaves, roots and stems) were collected, washed with distilled water, shade dried and powdered. This powder was used for analysis of carbohydrate [5], protein[6], lipid [14], starch [5] and phenol [7]. Results and Discussion Total levels of metabolites such as sugars, starch, proteins, lipids and phenols evaluated by established protocols in C. callosus, C. colocynthis and L. acutangula. Plants are rich sources of high value metabolites like protein, lipid(oil) and others that are useful in flavoring, fragrances, insecticides, sweeteners and natural dyes [8]. Levels of different metabolites in samples of different parts of the plants are as follows:- Total levels of proteins were found higher in seeds as compared to leaves, stems and roots (Table 1, Fig. 1). C. colocynthis seed contains 26±2% while L. acutangula contains 23±2% of protein, which is similar to protein content of pulses(legumes), which contains 20-25% of protein content. Enzymatic reaction within living cell are typically mediated by proteins [9]. The polymer molecules of protein are formed by linking together a number of amino acids[10]. Total levels of lipids were found higher in seeds followed by roots as compared to leaves and stems (Table 1, Fig. 2). Lipids, the constituents of membranes, are energy stores and involve in controlling of metabolism. Lipids are being used by industry as highly stable lubricant and as reneweble source of fuel [9]. According to US

3 Protein and Oil Quantification from Less Explored Arid Cucurbits 351 Department of Agriculture, Soyabean contains approx 20% of fat content by weight and mustard contains approx 30% of fat content by weight while these cucurbit contains 22±2% to 25±2% of fat content hence may used as rich source of vegetable oil or may be used as biofueil just as jatropha [11] which contains average 34.4% of oil content. Table 1: Different metabolites content. Plant Sample Sugar Starch Protein mg/gdw Lipid Phenol mg/gdw mg/gdw mg/gdw mg/gdw Luffa acutangula Leaf Stem Root Seed Cucumis callosus Leaf Stem Root Seed Citrullus colocynthis Leaf Stem Root Seed mg/gdw = milligram per gram of dry weight. Figure 1: Total protein content. Figure 2: Total lipid content.

4 352 Payal Singh Soam et al Maximum amount of Phenol was estimated in stems of L.acutangula, C. callosus, and leaves of C. colocynthis and L.acutangula (Table 1, Fig. 3). Phenolic compounds regulate the growth and development of plants. Phenols or their oxygen-substituted derivatives such as tannins are aromatic substances which are synthesized by the plants. These substances are useful to the maintenance of health in humans and other animals [12]. Phenols have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities [13]. Figure 3: Total phenol content. Conclusion The study states that in Cucumis callosus (Rottle.), Citrullus colocynthis (L.) and Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb. protein(180, 268 and 231 mg/gdw, respectively) and lipid (248, 246 and 227 mg/gdw, respectively) contents is higher in seeds of all three plants. Maximum amount of Phenol was estimated in stems of L. acutangula (6.9 mg/gdw), C. callosus (6.29 mg/gdw), and leaves of C. colocynthis (6.37mg/gdw). The uses of cucurbit seeds as sources of oils and proteins have been previously reviewed, after the hull is removed, cucurbit seeds contain about 50 percent oil and up to 35 percent proteins. Most of their oil is made up of non-saturated fatty acids, thus of high nutritional values. Conjugated fatty acids among some cucurbit oils make them highly useful as drying oils. [I.e. they combine readily with oxygen to form an elastic, waterproof film. Ed.] The proteins, on the other hand, are principally of the globulin type, and are deficient in lysine but also in sulfur-bearing amino acid. Protein efficiency ratios of about 30 to 70 (that of powdered skim milk is 80) have been measured. The uses of cucurbit seeds for their high protein and oil content have many precedents. These non-conventional plants have great nutritional value so may be proved as possible protein and oil source and their metabolites have further scope in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical industries and as Bio-controls.

5 Protein and Oil Quantification from Less Explored Arid Cucurbits 353 References [1] Katewa SS. Indigenous People and Forests: Perspectives of an Ethnobotanical Study from Rajasthan (India) In:Herbal Drugs: Ethnomedicine to Modern Medicine. 2009; [2] Guha Bakshi DM, Sensarma P, Pal DC. A lexicon of medicinal plants of India. 2000; 1 pp [3] Lazos ES. Certain functional properties of defatted pumpkin seed flour. PlantFoodsHum.Nutr. 1992;51, [4] Scheerens J C, Ralowcz AE, McGriff TL, Bee KA, Nelson JM, Gathman AC. Phenotypic variation of agronomic traits among coyote gourd accessions and their progeny. Econ.Bot. 1991;45, [5] Dubois MK, Gilles, Hamilton JK, Rebers PA, SmithF. A colorimetric method for the determination of sugar. Nature. 1951; [6] Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ. Protein measurement with the Folin-Phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem. 1951;193: [7] Bray HG, WV Thrope. Analysis of phenolic compounds of interest in metabolism. Meth Biochem Anal. 1954;1: [8] Kaufman PB, Duke JA, Brielmam H, Cseke S, Warber S. Natural products from plants. CRC Press. Boca Ratton, F.L [9] Harwood JL. Plant Lipid Metabolism, In. Plant Biochemistry, P.M. Dey, and J. B. Harborne, (Eds.). Academic Press. New York. 2000;pp [10] Arora MP. Biomolecules. Vol.2. Himalaya Publishing House-Mumbai. 2004;160. [11] Radha KK, Kumari AA, Nagesh EL. Alternative Fuels for a Single Cylinder Direct Injection Diesel Engine. IN: First International Conference on Emerging Trends in Engineering and Technology [12] Lietava J. Medicinal Plants in a Middle Paleolithic Grave Shanidar IV, J. Ethnopharmacol. 1992;35(3):263. [13] Robert KM. Biochemistry and Medicine Harper s. Illustrated Biochemistry. Mc Graw Hill [14] Jayaraman J. Laboratory Manual in Biochemistry. New Delhi: Wiley Eastern Limited, New Delhi.1981.

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