Comparative evaluation of physicochemical and qualitative phytochemical characteristics of abelmoschus esculentus seeds following treatment with zincum metallicum 6x: an experimental study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (okra) contains a range of phytochemical constituents and is widely used as a food and medicinal plant. Although Zincum metallicum 6X has previously been investigated in relation to plant growth, its association with the physicochemical and qualitative phytochemical characteristics of A. esculentus seeds has not been well characterized. Therefore, the present study compared crude A. esculentus seeds with seeds treated with Zincum metallicum 6X. Methods: A comparative experimental study was conducted using two groups: Group A, crude untreated A. esculentus seeds, and Group B, A. esculentus seeds treated with Zincum metallicum 6X. Both groups were evaluated for moisture content and total ash value using gravimetric methods. Preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening was performed to assess alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, steroids/terpenoids, carbohydrates, proteins/amino acids, and mucilage/polysaccharides. The analyses were carried out at the Department of Pharmacognosy, Father Muller College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Deralakatte, Mangaluru, Karnataka. Results: The moisture content was 11% w/w in Group A and 11.5% w/w in Group B, showing a difference of 0.5 percentage points. The total ash value was 8% in Group A and 4% w/w in Group B, representing a difference of 4 percentage points and a 50% lower reported value in the treated group. The qualitative phytochemical profiles of the two groups were broadly comparable. Flavonoids, tannins, steroids/terpenoids, carbohydrates, proteins/amino acids, and mucilage/polysaccharides were detected in both groups, whereas alkaloids, saponins, and glycosides were not detected. Conclusion: Under the analytical conditions used in this study, Zincum metallicum 6X-treated A. esculentus seeds showed differences in selected physicochemical parameters, particularly total ash value, compared with crude seeds. However, no qualitative change in the major phytochemical classes assessed was detected. These findings are preliminary and should be interpreted cautiously because replicate measurements and quantitative chemical analyses were not performed. Further studies using adequate replication, quantitative phytochemical assays, chromatographic profiling, and elemental analysis are required to confirm and further characterize these findings.
Authors: Aneetta S George, Sumaiyah .
Language: English
Topic: Medicinal Plant Research
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7204091724