Consumption pattern of Green Leafy vegetables by Myocardial ischemic (Patients in Batticaloa and selection of the best vegetables based on the antioxidant properties

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify the consumption pattern of Green Leafy Vdgetables (GLVs) of Myocardial lschemiC (Ml) patients who suffered chest pain due to insufficient blood flow to heart muscle and attending the cardiac clinic at teaching Hospital Baticaloa, ln addition, vitamin C, total phenolic contents (TPC) and total antioxidant activity (TAA) were also estimated for the highly consumed fresh GLVs for food an.d medicinal purpose by the Ml patients. Consumption pattern of GLVs was assessed by using a semi-structured questionnaire. Vitamin C content was determined by 2,6-dichloroindophenol (DCP) titrimetic method, whereas TPC was measured by Folin-Ciocalteu method. Total Antioxidant activity was measured using Ferric Reducifig Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay which depends upon the reduction of ferric tripyridyltriazine [Fe(ll|)-TPTZ] complex to the ferrous tripyridyltriazine (Fe(ll)-TPTZ) by a reductant 4! low pH. .,'0._ Results revealed that thirty one species of GLVs wer6 commonly consumed by Ml patients. Their average frequency of consumption was nearly 50%. Fotrrteen specids were consumed by more than 50% of the patients interviewed. Sixty one percentage of Ml patients consumed GLVs daily. Eighty eight percent of Ml patients consumed GLVs immediately after harvesting / purchasing. Sixteen GLVs wdre selected to determine Vitamin C, TPC and TAA which included AeNa, Qtternanthera sess/is Ama'ranthua caud atu s (Pendant am a ranth ), Am aranth u s v i ri d i s, A rgy re i a p om ace a, C ard i o spe rm u m. halicacabum, Centella asiatica Delonix elata , Drega volubilis , Mollugo oppositifoliq, Moringaoleifera, Murraya koenigii, Pisonia. grandis, Sauropus androgynus, Sesbanla grandiflora, and Solanum. trilobafum. Vitamin C content of fresh GLVs ralged from 5.25 mg/100 g wet weight in Centetla asiatica to 416.2 mg/100 g in Drega volubilis. TPC of fresh GLVs ranged from 21.82x15 mg TAE /100 g in Mollugo oppositifolia to 560.1151 mg TAE /100 g in Detonix elata. TAA of fresh GLVs ranged from 4.12i0.16 pmol Fe2*g-' in Moringa oleifera to 38.59t1 .05 pmol Fe2*g-t in Murraya koenigii. Based on the Vitamin C, TPC and TAA analysis, D. volubilis, D. elata and M. Koenigiiare identified as promising GLVs.