A Comparative Study on the Nutritional and Anti-Nutritional Characters of Species of Amaranthus L. (Amaranthaceae)

Abstract

Amaranthus belongs to the family Amaranthaceae and is widely distributed in tropical countries. The genus comprises
over 70 species of which 15 are consumed as vegetables. The present study concerns with the estimation of nutritional
and anti nutritional components of four Amaranthus species, namely, A. cruentus, A. spinosus, A. tricolor and
A. viridis collected from Thiruvananthapuram district, is the southern part of Kerala. The evaluated parameters were
protein, carbohydrate, ascorbic acid, phenol, flavanoid, moisture and oxalate. The protein content ranged between
4.8-9.7 mg/g. High protein content was detected in A. spinosus. A. cruentus was characterized by presence of rich
carbohydrate (23.6 mg/g). The carbohydrate and phenol content of genus ranged between 5.2-23.6 mg/g and 5.1-
11 mg/g respectively. Highest flavanoid content was observed in A.spinosus and it ranged between 0.0029-0.005
mg/g. Ascorbic acid content and moisture was high in A.viridis and it ranged between 14-25 mg/g and 40-65%,
respectively. The anti nutritional factor oxalate was found to be highest in A. cruentus and A. tricolor (15-14.09
mg/g) whereas it was comparatively very low in A. spinosus and A. viridis. The nutritional factors namely, carbohydrate,
protein and ascorbic acid were markedly high as per the Recommended Dietary Allowances (1974). This study
suggested the cultivation and consumption of A. spinosus and A. viridis which are not commonly used.