Polyphenols, carotenoids, and ascorbic acid in underutilized medicinal vegetables

The polyphenols, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, and protein were determined in 24 underutilized medicinal vegetables from Indonesia. Anacardium occidentale, Sauropus androgynus (L.) Merr., and Moringa pterygosperma Gaertn. leaves were rich sources of flavonoids, with 118–144 mg/100 g fresh weight. Quercetin, kaempferol, and chlorogenic acid were the predominant polyphenols among those measured in vegetables. Polyscias pinnata leaves and Solanum torvum Swartz fruits had the most phenolic acids, with 53 and 36 mg/100 g, respectively. Moringa pterygosperma had the most carotenoids among vegetables, with 14 mg β-carotene equivalents (βCE)/100 g. Ascorbic acid content of fresh vegetables was 12.03–494.43 mg/100 g. A. occidentale, S. androgynus, Ocimum americanum L., Cosmos caudatus H.B.K., and Carica papaya L. (papaya) leaves had more than 100 mg ascorbic acid/100 g. Thus, a number of underutilized vegetables from Indonesia may be rich sources of functional components including polyphenols and ascorbic acid.

► Polyphenols, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, and protein quantified in 24 vegetables.
► The first report of flavonoids and phenolic acid content in a number of plants.
► Anacardium occidentale, Sauropus androgynus, Moringa pterygosperma, and Pluchea indica had most polyphenols.
► Ocimum americanum, Cosmos caudatus, and Carica papaya leaves had abundant ascorbic acid.
► A. occidentale had uniquely increased ascorbic acid and polyphenols.