Screening of Phytochemical Compounds and Toxic Proteinaceous Protease Inhibitor in Some Lesser-Known Food Based Plants and Their Effects and Potential Applications in Food

Compounds or substances which act to reduce nutrient intake, digestion, absorption and utilization and may produce other adverse effects are referred to as anti-nutrients or anti-nutritional factors. Plant sources contain in their raw state wide varieties of anti-nutrients which are potentially toxic. This study was conducted to phytochemical investigation on fruits and plants from India and Iran. Eight plant species were used. A qualitative phytochemical analysis was performed for the presence of polyphenols, saponins, alkaloids, phytic acid, trypsin inhibitor and saponins. The results obtained of the investigated plants showed that the all eight samples were found to be polyphenols but Solanum indicum contains highest value(7.02mg/g). All samples showed the presence of alkaloids, and showed presence of saponins except Alocacia and Asparagus and showed presence of steroids except Chlorophytum and Asparagus. Portulaca with(16.9 TIU/g) and Asparagus with(0.8 TIU/g) contain highest and lowest values of trypsin inhibitor respectively. The phytochemical screening revealed moderate phytate contents except Solanum and Portulaca. The plants are rich sources of polyphenols appear to have protective effects for human health. Trypsin inhibitor and phytic acid may play a role as an antioxidant in plants and may be beneficial to health when it is consumed.