Evaluation of Nutritional, Antifungal Properties and Activities of Hydrolytic and Oxidative Enzymes of Coccinia cordifolia Leaves

Objective: This study demonstrated the significant changes of nutritional compositions, hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes of C. cordifolia leaves at different maturity stages.

Methods: Biochemical screening revealed the presence of reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, starch, crude fibers and pectin in moderate concentration. Thiamin and riboflavin were estimated by Anonymous and b-carotene was estimated by Jensen. Cupper and magnesium content were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopic method. Phosphorus was determined by colorimetric means. The protease and amylase activity were measured by Kunitz and Jayaraman respectively. Invertase activity was assayed by Mahadevan and Sridhar.

Results: Reducing sugar and pectin contents increased rapidly while starch content decreased with maturation. Non-reducing sugar and crude fiber content increased up to the mature stage and decreased in ripen stage. The activity of amylase and invertase increased up to mature and thereafter decreased in ripen stage. Polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activity were high in immature stage but decreased in matured stage and thereafter increased in ripen stage while the activity of protease and lipase increased all the maturity stage.

Conclusion: C. cordifolia plant leaves demonstrated the variety amount of reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, starch, pectin, crude fibers, b-Carotene, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and several enzymes in the three different maturity stages.