Impact of Different Drying Method on Phytosterols and Proximate Biochemical Contents in Leaf, Stem and Root of Jivanti [Leptadenia reticulata (Retz.) Wight and Arn.]

Abstract

Abstract Leptadenia reticulata (Retz.) Wight & Arn., is commonly known as jivanti is extensively used to treat various diseases from an ancient time. Effect of different drying method (sun, shade, vacuum, oven, tray, microwave continuous, microwave vacuum and fluidized bed dryer) on phytosterols and proximate biochemical parameters content in different plant parts of jivanti was assessed. LC-MS analyzed showed that significantly maximum campesterol, CAM in shade drying (5.10 µg/g) while stigmasterol, STIG (12.03 µg/g) and β-sitosterol, β-SIT (17.93 µg/g) were found maximum in vacuum drying. Among the plant parts, leaves exhibited relatively maximum content of β-SIT (37.47 µg/g), STIG (21.52 µg/g) and CAM (7.85 µg/g) compared to stem and root. All the drying methods resulted in drastic reduced in moisture content; reducing sugar (4.55 %), fibre (44.61 %), ash (16.23 %), flavonoid (5.92 %), antioxidant activity, AOA (0.71 %) and total phenol, TPHC (0.83 %) content was found significantly maximum retention in vacuum drying. However, shade drying was revealed maximum conservation of chlorophyll (23.26 mg/ g), carbohydrate (14.80 %), protein (13.47 %), non-reducing sugar (11.04 %) and TSS (14.14 %). A positive correlation of AOA with TPHC, CAM, STIG and β-SIT was recorded. Vacuum drying contributed maximum (56.18 %) variation followed by shade drying (12.26 %) in principal component analysis (PCA). Considering all these points, vacuum drying techniques could be used to dry the jivanti leaves to get maximum retention of phytochemical compounds.