Chemical composition, nutraceuticals characterization, NMR confirmation of squalene and antioxidant activities of Basella rubra L. seed oil.

Basella rubra (Malabar spinach) is a commonly consumed green leafy vegetable in southern parts of India.
The chemical composition, nutraceuticals characterization, squalene Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR),
in vitro antioxidant activities and cytotoxicity of B. rubra seed oil (33.08%) was investigated. Gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis revealed the presence of palmitic (27.21 mmol%),
oleic (33.83 mmol%) and linoleic acid (26.02 mmol%) with a total of 64.38 mmol% unsaturated fatty acids
respectively. HPLC nutraceutical characterization showed a major constituent of gallic acid (11.23 mg%),
g-tocopherols (17.74 mg%), cycloartenylferulate (1.7 mg%), and squalene (1 g%). Squalene was further
recovered (98%), purified (99.9%), and confirmed through 1
H and 13C NMR. The in vitro antioxidant
activities recorded by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (EC50 ¼ 6 mg mL1
), ferric reducing
antioxidant power (361.85 mM of Trolox Eq./100 g) and 2,20
-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-
sulphonic acid (EC50 ¼ 56.19 mg mL1
) scavenging activity. In vitro cytotoxicity assessed on 3T3-L1
showed good cell survival without any toxicity (upto 400 mg mL1
). B. rubra seed oil has proven
nutraceuticals and antioxidant potentials with least toxicity which can be recommended for functional
foods applications.