Antioxidants and nutritional counters of drumstick (Moringa oleifera) germplasm under rainfed semi-arid region

Drumstick (Moringa oleifera L.) is a tropical plant with wider adaptability to drought and different agro-climatic conditions. The different plant parts including leaves, fruits, flowers and immature pods are used throughout the world for various purposes due to their high nutritive value. The 34 genetic resources of drumstick along with Thar Harsha variety were investigated in this study during 2019–2021 on quality parameters at ICAR-Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Panchmahals, Vadodara, Gujarat. Results showed that the percentage of dry matter and moisture content ranged from 10.86 to 17.98 and 83.08 to 89.14 (pod), 8.16 to 14.80 and 83.40 to 93.38 (pulp), 16.00 to 22.80 and 72.20 to 84.00 (skin) and 24.62 to 30.54 and 69.46 to 75.38 (leaves), respectively. The total phenolic (TP) content (mg GAE/100 g) in pod (26.36– 39.90), pulp (151.54–232.70), rind (73.37–169.06) and leaves (448.21–970.16) were recorded. The pod, pulp and leaf of CHES D-40 accession recorded the highest TP content. While, the rind of CHES D-42 accession recorded the maximum TP content. Similarly, leaves and pods of CHES D-40 showed the highest vitamin C. In 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) assay, the antioxidant activity of M. oleifera accessions leaves varied from 14.83 to 31.29 µmol TE/g. In all nutrient contents of the M. oleifera accession dry leaf powder was quantified with wide variation. The accession CHES D-40 recorded the highest N, K, Ca, S, and Fe in leaves, whereas, P and Cu in CHES D-42, Mg and Zn in CHES D-34 leaves. The protein varied from 21.58 to 29.87 g/100 g in leaves, while in pod, 13.00 to 18.00 g/100 g. These results revealed that the potentiality of M. oleifera leaves in context to antioxidants and nutrients can be included in diets to supplement our daily nutrient needs.