Studies on nutritional and medicinal properties of chamomile flower, pumpkin fruit and maca root

Abstract

Medicines derived from medicinal plants are effective and safe, providing significant nutritional and therapeutic benefits. The purpose of this study was to determine the nutritional and medicinal values of chamomile flower, pumpkin fruit, and mace root. Standard methods were used to analyze the proximate and mineral compositions. By using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, antioxidant activity was evaluated. The exotic plants showed significant variations in moisture contents: chamomile (14.89%), pumpkin (89.22%), and maca (7.70%). Ash content: chamomile (8.26%), pumpkin (0.79%), and maca (4.39%). Crude fiber content: chamomile (13.89%), pumpkin (0.87%), and maca (4.24%) and Lipid content: chamomile; (10.89%), pumpkin (1.55%), maca (17.39%). Protein content:;: chamomile (19.06%) pumpkin (3.06%) and maca (21.39%). Carbohydrate content: chamomile (33.16%), pumpkin (4.46%) and maca (44.84%), The crude methanol extracts exhibited high antioxidant activity, with IC50 values of 66.75 µg/ml (pumpkin), 32.99µg/ml (chamomile), and 84.55µg/ml (maca). Pumpkin, maca and chamomile powders were rich in essential elements like Na, K, Fe, Ca, Mn and Zn. The study revealed the nutritional and medicinal potential of chamomile, pumpkin and maca powders, making them suitable for practical applications. The detected phyto-constituents may be responsible for the plants' ethno-medicinal properties. These findings provide a scientific basis for the use of these plants in food and pharmaceutical industries.