Spectral, Thermal, Mineral and Phenolic Characteristics of Plant Seeds from Ten Families | Chapter 8 | Current Research Trends in Biological Science Vol. 2

Seeds are a main dietary component for humans and animals. In this work, the physical, spectral, thermal, mineral and phenolic characteristics of seeds from 47 species belonging to 10 families (Arecaceae, Amaranthaceae, Anacardiaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Malvaceae, Rutaceae, Sapindaceae and Sapotaceae) are described. The seeds had moisture and ash contents in the 1.6–12.9% and 1.0–5.5% range, respectively, and the seed coat represented from 12 to 85% of the seed weight, depending on the species. The protein, starch and oil-associated vibrations in the seeds were characterized by infrared spectroscopy. The thermal behavior of the seeds, which involved an initial dehydration step, followed by free/bound moisture and volatile extractives release, and by protein, starch and oil decomposition, was studied by thermogravimetric (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques, evidencing noticeable differences between families. The total polyphenol and mineral contents widely varied from 185 to 3441 mg/100 g and from 831 to 7904 mg/100 g, respectively. Cluster analysis was used to categorize seed potentiality in terms of mineral contents. Variations in seed proximate parameters, spectral, thermal, phenolic and mineral characteristics as a function of the family to which the seeds belong to are also discussed.

Author (s) Details

Khageshwar Singh Patel
School of Studies in Chemistry, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur-492010, India.

Suryakant Chakradhari
School of Studies in Environmental Science, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur-492010, India.

Pravin Kumar Sahu
School of Studies in Environmental Science, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur-492010, India.

Jesús Martín-Gil 
Department of Agriculture and Forestry Engineering, ETSIIAA, Universidad de Valladolid, Avenida de Madrid 44, 34004 Palencia, Spain.

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