Vol. 7, Issue 6 (2019)

Introduction: Cocos nucifera vegetative bud is a vegetable harvested from the inner core and growing bud of coconut. In Indian folk medicine, the fresh coconut vegetative bud is useful in treating ulcer, stomach pain, jaundice, body heat, diabetes, piles, fever, indigestion, kidney stone and strangury. Consequently, the profiling of nutritional qualities and phytochemical screening of Cocos nucifera vegetative bud is essential to produce evidence for the functional properties of coconut vegetative bud. Hence, the study was planned to document the pioneer data about the nutritional and phytochemical constituents of vegetative bud of coconut.

Methods: The physico-chemical properties such as moisture, carbohydrate, starch, total sugar, fat, protein, fibre, pH, acidity and ash content were determined. Minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper and manganese was analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry. Screening of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, phytosterol and oxalates were done using ethanol, methanol, hexane, petroleum ether, acetone, and aqueous medium of extracts of coconut vegetative bud.

Results: The moisture content of the fresh vegetative bud was 81 percent and the pH is 6.34±0.04. The proximate nutrients like carbohydrate, starch, total sugar, fat and protein were found to be 49.75, 38.70, 6.174, 8.38 and 10.18 gram percent in dry weight basis respectively. It has a higher amount of fibre 11.41 g in dry weight basis. Acidity and ash content of vegetative bud were 3.07 % and 9.32 g in dry weight basis respectively. The study also revealed that Cocos nucifera vegetative bud is rich in essential minerals. Phytochemical screening by using different solvents has shown the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins and phytosterol.

Discussion: It indicates that the presence of different nutrients and phytochemicals in the vegetative bud of Cocos nucifera further confirm the ability of the bud to serve a source of natural medicines.