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VOL. 11, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Comprehensive analysis of free and total amino acids in Chloroxylon swietenia DC.: Implications for nutritional and functional food potential
Authors
Manas Ranjan Debta, Basundhara Pillai, Tapan Seal
Abstract
Amino acid profiling is a fundamental approach for assessing the
nutritional quality and functional significance of wild edible plants. The
present investigation evaluated the free amino acids (FAA), total amino acids
(TAA), and bound fractions of Chloroxylon swietenia to determine its
protein nutritional potential. Quantitative analysis (µg/100 mg dry weight)
revealed substantial variation among individual amino acids and between their
free and total forms. Among the free amino acids, glycine (43.616 µg/100 mg)
was predominant, followed by asparagine (14.615 µg/100 mg), histidine (9.663
µg/100 mg), and lysine (8.784 µg/100 mg). The presence of free essential amino
acids such as histidine and lysine enhance the immediate nutritional relevance
of the plant. Serine and methionine were not detected in free form, suggesting
rapid metabolic utilization or incorporation into proteins. Total amino acid
content was markedly higher than the free fraction, indicating substantial
protein-bound reserves. Alanine exhibited the highest total concentration
(150.005 µg/100 mg), followed by cystine (120.509 µg/100 mg), glutamine (86.289
µg/100 mg), glycine (84.834 µg/100 mg), methionine (73.080 µg/100 mg), and
arginine (69.987 µg/100 mg). Essential amino acids, including threonine,
valine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, histidine, methionine, and
tryptophan, were present in appreciable quantities, suggesting a relatively
balanced amino acid spectrum. The bound fraction constituted the major
proportion of most amino acids, particularly alanine, cystine, glutamine,
methionine, and arginine, reflecting significant incorporation into structural
and storage proteins. Overall, the findings indicate that C. swietenia
possesses promising nutritional attributes and may serve as a valuable
supplementary protein source among wild edible plants.
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Pages:117-121
How to cite this article:
Manas Ranjan Debta, Basundhara Pillai, Tapan Seal "Comprehensive analysis of free and total amino acids in <i>Chloroxylon swietenia</i> DC.: Implications for nutritional and functional food potential". International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition, Vol 11, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 117-121
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