A comparative study on nutritional, fatty acids, carotenoids, aroma and antioxidative characteristics of Microcarpum DC and Vulgare alef varieties of coriander foliage.

Fresh coriander foliage (Vulgare alef and Microcarpum DC varieties) were analysed for studying their nutritional, dietary
fibre, fatty acids, carotenoids and antioxidant properties. Microcarpum DC foliage had higher amount of fat, protein, minerals,
soluble and insoluble dietary fibre contents than Vulgare alef. Calcium (158.76±2.37 mg/100 g) and potassium (98.93±1.63
mg/100 g) were the most abundant minerals in Microcarpum DC. α-Linolenic and cis-Linoleic acids were the two primary fatty
acids present in both foliages. β-Carotene content in Microcarpum DC (10.35±0.16 mg/100 g) was six times higher than in
Vulgare alef (1.54±0.10 mg/100 g). Most common compounds identified by GC-MS in both the varieties were decanal,
2-decenal (Z), undecanal, dodecanal, 2-dodecenal (E), 2-tridecenal (E), tetradecanal, E-9-tetradecenal, 7-hexadecenal (Z) and
n-hexadecanoic acid. Total phenolic content in Vulgare alef (44.00±0.85 g GAE/100 g) and Microcrpum DC (44.93±0.64 g
GAE/100 g) were nearly equal. Extracts from Microcarpum DC showed higher antioxidant capacities compared to Vulgare
alef. Microcarpum DC foliage has higher protein, dietary fibre, minerals, fatty acids, β-Carotene, flavonoids and total phenolics
along with higher antioxidant potential. The outcome confirms the significant compositional differences in both the varieties
studied. Microcarpum DC is having higher nutritional, nutraceutical and antioxidant capacity than Vulgare alef.