Physico-chemical, optical, and functional characterization of the developed phytochemical rich water dispersible tablets from moringa leaf and wheat grass powder

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is a well-recognized wonder plant with vigorous growth, great nutritional potential, and full of phytochemicals to add therapeutic and medicinal effects. Wheat grass also has proven health benefits like moringa. Moringa leaves and wheat grass were dehydrated in a cabinet drier and powdered. These powders were analysed for physicochemical, optical, nutritional, functional, rheological, structural, and phytochemical characteristics. The developed powders were rich in protein, phenolic content, and antioxidant potential to be used for prophylactic purposes. Antioxidant value was observed as 88.86±0.15, and 38.08±0.32 mg/g and the total phenolic content as 149.30±2.26 and 126.06±0.47 mg GAE/100g for the moringa leaf and wheatgrass powder, respectively. During storage at room temperature for three months the antioxidant potential was reduced to almost 10-15%. The rapid loss of vital phytochemicals happens due to the process of oxidation, as powders were having higher exposed surface area to volume. Wet granulation method was applied for tablet formation from moringa leaf and/or wheatgrass powder. The tablets were tested for weight variations, hardness, disintegration, sedimentation characteristics, wetting volume, wetting time, and functional characteristics. Insignificant change in the antioxidant activity and TPC were observed on converting the powders into tablets. The detailed phytochemicals as present in the developed tablets may find role in prophylactic and therapeutic applications.