Comparative Analysis of Nutritional and Antimicrobial Activity of Curcuma angustifolia (Roxb.) and Maranta arundinacea (L.)

Author: Sahoo Monalisha, Jena Padan Kumar, Mahapatra Sujata and Bhotra Tilothama

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Abstract

Curcuma angustifolia (Roxb.) commonly called as Eastern arrowroot (Zingiberaceae) and Maranta arundinacea (L.) called as Western arrowroot (Marantaceae) are two starch yielding plants having medicinal and nutritive value. Despite many reports on their therapeutic and pharmacological potential both the plants are generally grown in wild with limited commercial cultivation. This study was done for comparative assessment of both the plants for phytochemical and antimicrobial evaluation sampled from the rural areas of Keonjhar and Sundergarh districts of Odisha. Results showed the presence of several bioactive constituents such as alkaloids, phenols, lipids, flavonoids, and steroids in both the plants except curcuminin C. angustifolia. Carbohydrate and protein content was comparatively higher in M. arundinacea than C. angustifolia at 20.59% and 0.98%. The methanol and acetone extracts also showed good antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. This study for the first time reports the characterization of the two arrowroot plants from the two districts of Odisha and aims to promote its wider use for its nutraceutical and therapeutic value to derive potential health benefits.

Keywords

Curcuma angustifolia (Roxb.); Maranta arundinacea (L.); Arrow root; Phytochemicals; Antimicrobial activity

Conclusion

The present study has investigated the phytochemical constituents, nutritional content, and antimicrobial activity of C. angustifolia and M. arundinacea rhizomes grown in the unexplored Sundergarh and Keonjhar districts of Odisha. Both the plants showed the presence of various phytochemicals like flavonoids, phenols, tannins, terpenoids, quinones, saponin, glycosides, lipids, steroids, amino acids, whereas curcumin and oxalates were present only in C. angustifolia which indicates that the plants are an effective source of therapeutic drugs. Aqueous extraction was found to be the most favourable method for extracting most of the classes of phytochemical compounds amongst all the solvents tested. Further characterization of the bioactive compounds can lead to identification of more antimicrobial compounds and help in combating the challenges of antimicrobial resistance. Additionally, the rhizomes can serve as a good source of carbohydrates and proteins and fulfil the nutritional requirements of people for all age groups.

References

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How to cite this article

Sahoo Monalisha, Jena Padan Kumar, Mahapatra Sujata and Bhotra Tilothama (2023). Comparative Analysis of Nutritional and Antimicrobial Activity of Curcuma angustifolia (Roxb.) and Maranta arundinacea (L.). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(3): 576-582.