Impact of geographical variation on nutritional and antioxidant properties of Basella alba L. from Sri Lanka
Abstract Background Basella alba L. (Malabar spinach) is a widely consumed leafy vegetable, well known for its nutritional and therapeutic properties. These properties arise from the availability of essential nutrients, phytochemicals, and antioxidant potential, which may vary depending on environme...
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2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Plant Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06143-3 |
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| author | Lakshanee Weerasinghe Dahanayaka Mapa Mudiyanselage Sumudu Tharangani Mapa Chamila Chathuranga Kadigamuwa Dhanushka Udayanga |
| author_facet | Lakshanee Weerasinghe Dahanayaka Mapa Mudiyanselage Sumudu Tharangani Mapa Chamila Chathuranga Kadigamuwa Dhanushka Udayanga |
| author_sort | Lakshanee Weerasinghe Dahanayaka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Basella alba L. (Malabar spinach) is a widely consumed leafy vegetable, well known for its nutritional and therapeutic properties. These properties arise from the availability of essential nutrients, phytochemicals, and antioxidant potential, which may vary depending on environmental factors induced by the geographical location. In this study our aim is to investigate the correlation between the geographical location and proximate composition, phytochemical content, and antioxidant activity of B. alba harvested from fifteen locations in Sri Lanka. Results According to the statistical analysis by ANOVA and Tukey test, the results of proximate analysis confirmed that samples from different locations showed statistically significant variance in nutritional content. Furthermore, phytochemical content and antioxidant potential varied showing a significant difference between locations in total chlorophyll (27.53 to 6.69 µg/g dry weight), carotene (4.54 to 1.15 µg/g dry weight), total flavonoid content (10.54 to 3.94 mg/g dry weight in Quercetin equivalents), total phenolic content (8.33 to 0.46 mg/g dry weight in gallic acid equivalents), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (38.03–11.4% inhibition), and ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power (1.23 to 3.76 mg/g dry weight in ascorbic acid equivalents) (p < 0.05). The Pearson correlation showed a strong positive correlation between total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Principal component analysis indicates the role of antioxidant activity and chlorophyll content in location differentiation, forming distinct clusters. Cluster analysis categorized samples into four groups, linking biochemical traits to agro-climatic zones. The principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed a close relationship between some locations due to their high antioxidant and phytochemical accumulation. Conclusion This study exhibits the importance of geographical location on the phytochemical profile and antioxidant properties of B. alba. These findings can be used to refine optimal cultivation sites for B. alba to enhance the efficacy of its nutraceutical and pharmaceutical potential. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c98b3f9765414fc4b066b1bac4e1ab71 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-c98b3f9765414fc4b066b1bac4e1ab712025-02-02T12:15:28ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-01-0125111510.1186/s12870-025-06143-3Impact of geographical variation on nutritional and antioxidant properties of Basella alba L. from Sri LankaLakshanee Weerasinghe Dahanayaka0Mapa Mudiyanselage Sumudu Tharangani Mapa1Chamila Chathuranga Kadigamuwa2Dhanushka Udayanga3Department of Biosystems Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Sri JayewardenepuraDepartment of Biosystems Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Sri JayewardenepuraDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of KelaniyaDepartment of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, SLIIT Malabe CampusAbstract Background Basella alba L. (Malabar spinach) is a widely consumed leafy vegetable, well known for its nutritional and therapeutic properties. These properties arise from the availability of essential nutrients, phytochemicals, and antioxidant potential, which may vary depending on environmental factors induced by the geographical location. In this study our aim is to investigate the correlation between the geographical location and proximate composition, phytochemical content, and antioxidant activity of B. alba harvested from fifteen locations in Sri Lanka. Results According to the statistical analysis by ANOVA and Tukey test, the results of proximate analysis confirmed that samples from different locations showed statistically significant variance in nutritional content. Furthermore, phytochemical content and antioxidant potential varied showing a significant difference between locations in total chlorophyll (27.53 to 6.69 µg/g dry weight), carotene (4.54 to 1.15 µg/g dry weight), total flavonoid content (10.54 to 3.94 mg/g dry weight in Quercetin equivalents), total phenolic content (8.33 to 0.46 mg/g dry weight in gallic acid equivalents), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (38.03–11.4% inhibition), and ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power (1.23 to 3.76 mg/g dry weight in ascorbic acid equivalents) (p < 0.05). The Pearson correlation showed a strong positive correlation between total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Principal component analysis indicates the role of antioxidant activity and chlorophyll content in location differentiation, forming distinct clusters. Cluster analysis categorized samples into four groups, linking biochemical traits to agro-climatic zones. The principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed a close relationship between some locations due to their high antioxidant and phytochemical accumulation. Conclusion This study exhibits the importance of geographical location on the phytochemical profile and antioxidant properties of B. alba. These findings can be used to refine optimal cultivation sites for B. alba to enhance the efficacy of its nutraceutical and pharmaceutical potential.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06143-3AntioxidantsGeographical correlationNutritional propertiesPhytochemical profile |
| spellingShingle | Lakshanee Weerasinghe Dahanayaka Mapa Mudiyanselage Sumudu Tharangani Mapa Chamila Chathuranga Kadigamuwa Dhanushka Udayanga Impact of geographical variation on nutritional and antioxidant properties of Basella alba L. from Sri Lanka BMC Plant Biology Antioxidants Geographical correlation Nutritional properties Phytochemical profile |
| title | Impact of geographical variation on nutritional and antioxidant properties of Basella alba L. from Sri Lanka |
| title_full | Impact of geographical variation on nutritional and antioxidant properties of Basella alba L. from Sri Lanka |
| title_fullStr | Impact of geographical variation on nutritional and antioxidant properties of Basella alba L. from Sri Lanka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of geographical variation on nutritional and antioxidant properties of Basella alba L. from Sri Lanka |
| title_short | Impact of geographical variation on nutritional and antioxidant properties of Basella alba L. from Sri Lanka |
| title_sort | impact of geographical variation on nutritional and antioxidant properties of basella alba l from sri lanka |
| topic | Antioxidants Geographical correlation Nutritional properties Phytochemical profile |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06143-3 |
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