Determination of Vitamin A Value of Familiar and Less Familiar Indian Green Leafy Vegetables

Consumption of Green Leafy Vegetables (GLVs) is widely recommended, as they are good source of
bioactive molecules such as carotenoids and minerals. In this study, GLVs (n=37) were evaluated for provitamin
A carotenoid levels using HPLC technique and their vitamin A activity as Retinol Equivalent (RE). Among
37 GLVs screened, 21 were found to contain β-carotene higher than 0.25 g/kg dry weight. Interestingly, less
familiar GLVs, in particular, Chenopodium album L., Commelina benghalensis L., Phyllanthus niruri L., Rumex
acetosella L. and Solarium nigrum L. were found to contain higher level of β-carotene (0.5 to 1.15 g/kg dry
weight) and the RE (RE of α-carotene+ β-carotene) ranged from 8351 to 19101 compared with familiar GLVs.
α-Carotene was detected in Amaranthus viridis L., Basella alba L., Beta vulgaris L., C. benghalensis L., Daucus
carota L., Murraya koenigii L., Piper betle L., Talinum cuniefolium L. and Tribidus terrestήs L., which ranged
from 0.03 to 0.37 g/kg dry weight. Results indicate that less familiar GLVs were found to contain higher level of
provitamin A carotenoids and RE. Hence, they could be exploited as a good source of vitamin A to manage
vitamin A deficiency malnutrition.