Nutritional and Sensory Evaluation of Low-Cost Iron Rich Recipes Fortified with Garden Cress Seeds (Lepidium Sativum)

Abstract

Seeds are versatile ingredient, which can be used to enhance texture and add burst of micro nutrients. Among all known seeds, Garden cress seed (Gcs) is an unpopular and often referred as Forgotten Superfood as general public is unaware of its inexpensiveness and nutritive potential which is yet not utilised to its fullest. Gcs comes with hampered number of micronutrients, 100 gm of Gcs contain 723mg phosphorus, 377 mg calcium and 100 mg iron. This study focuses on the development of low-cost iron rich recipes using Gcs. The two recipes developed were Fruit Leather (FL) and Instant Sattu premix drink (SD). Three variants for each recipe were created, as FL1, FL2, FL3 and SD1, SD2, SD3; with different level of fortification, which was first sensory analysed, to estimate the most accepted variants. The best accepted variant FL3 and SD2 was not significant (p>0.05) different in other attributes. Nutrients like iron. protein, carbohydrate, and fibre were analysed. FL cover 11.25% DV of total iron requirement, SD comprehend 37.50%. Both the product contains beneficial amount of protein, carbohydrates and fibre, which will aid both adolescence and people of older age. The cost of the products was relatively lower than the market price, total production cost of FL was 12.5 Rs/100gm and SD cost for 18.5 Rs/100 gm. Both the products are worthwhile as they provide such vital nutrients in abundant on lower cost.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

Garden Cress Seed (Gcs) is one of the “Forgotten Superfood”. Gcs has different names in several parts of India. Commonly called as Aliv or Halim Seeds. The good thing about Gsc is not fully known or celebrated (Diwekar, 2016). Gcs are red in colour, small in size, oval in shape, pointed and triangular at one end (Image no. 1). Gcs looks almost like til seeds. On soaking Gcs get swelled and covered in transparent mucilage (Bigoniya, 2011); (Najeeb-ur-Rehmana, 2011). Garden cress seed (Gcs) is extremely popular in Sothern part as compared to Northern and central parts of the country. In South India Gcs is employed for postpartum remedies, increases milk production (Alshawabkeh, 2013), as Gcs helps to regulate hormones and have anti-diabetic effects. (Divanji M, 2012). The current epidemic that affects the most women is PCOD, in which testosterone levels are elevated, in turn result in acne, pimples, and baldness. These problems can be managed by introducing Gcs in daily diet. The seeds are not just regarded as a post-partum essential but as a natural aphrodisiac because it has properties that mimic oestrogen (Paswan, 2017). Gcs even have anti-oxidants and hemoprotective effects and is excellent source of iron for all womankind. (Diwekar, 2016); (Dashora & Choudhary, 2016); (Ankita Tandon, 2016 ).

A famous celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar mentioned Gcs as “Beauty Pill” because it contains good amount of vitamin A and E. Gcs also have Sulforaphane, a nutrient which provides the skin even tone, and reduce patches, gives brightness and other essential fatty acids like linoleic and Arachidic which benefit skin. In her book Indian Superfoods, she also added that Gcs is definitely a superfood because it possesses tons of micro nutrients, such as iron, folic acid, calcium, phosphorus.(Devi, 2015); (Jain, 2016); (Diwekar, 2016).(Table no. 1). Gcs is rich in many phytochemicals, which adds to Gcs therapeutics properties. (Kirtikar, 1935). Since Vedic era Garden cress seed (Gcs) is employed for medicinal purposes, for the treatment of various diseases including bronchitis, asthma, (Paranjape AN, 2006), paste of Gcs is applied in rheumatic joints which relieves pain and inflammation. (Nita D.Raval, 2009); (Sharma S. , 2011); (Falana, 2014); (Snehal Doke, 2014). Studies have shown that the leaves and seeds of Gcs have anti-inflammatory effects, the Gcs paste mixed with lemon juice can reduce inflammation and rheumatic pain, during ancient times Gcs paste was used for healing bone fracturedue and hepato-protective effect due to the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, cyanogenic glycosides (traces), triterpens, tannins, glucosinolates and sterols (Paranjape AN, 2006); (Sharma S. N., 2011); (Falana, 2014); (Fatma h Alharbi, 2021).

Table no. 1 Nutritive value of Garden Cress seed per 100g (Medindia, n.d.)

II. METHODOLOGY

Two products with three variants were prepared, the process was divided into 4 phases

A. Phase 1- Procurment of Garden Cress Seed

Garden cress seed with high quality and reasonable price was collected from local market. The seeds were handpicked for removal of any physical impurities, rinsed to remove any dirt, air dried, roasted to alter the taste and grinded to make coarse powder

B. Phase 2- Development Of Product

The two GCS fortified products were developed.

1. Fruit Leather (Product code - FL) - Three different variations of fruit leather were developed by using papaya- FL1 fortified with 5% of garden cress seeds, artificial colour and flavour were added. Whereas FL2 was also fortified with 5% of garden cress seeds, for natural colouring beetroot were add 10% of total papaya pulp and FL3 also contain pure papaya pulp with no added colour of flavours and with same percentage of Garden cress seeds.
2. Sattu Primix Drink (Product code - SD) - Three different variations of instant sattu premix were developed by using channa sattu and sundried vegetables- SD1 fortified with 05% of Gcs, sundried mint, beetroot, chillies, corianders, and carrots, were added. Whereas SD2 was also fortified with 10% of Gcs, sundried mint, beetroot, chillies, corianders, and carrots and SD3 contain 15% of Gcs, sundried mint, beetroot, chillies, corianders, and carrots.

C. Phase 3- Sensory Evaluation

1. Sample area- The study was conducted in Lucknow city.
2. Sample composite/ type- Random sampling; both male and female of different age groups were selected for sensory evaluation. 
3. Period of study- The study was conducted in the time period April- May 2022.
4. Sample size- Total samples sample size was 50 including 10 trained, 20 semi-trained and 20 untrained evaluators.

a. Statical Analysis: The two hypotheses were formulated- Null Hypothesis (H0) – There is no significant difference between the variation of food products. Alternative Hypothesis (HA)– There is significant difference between the variation of food products. For this 2-way analysis of variances (2-way ANOVA), Mean and Standard deviation was performed.

D. Phase 4 – Nutritive Analysis

Through different laboratory methods, iron, and proximate analysis (carbohydrates, protein, moisture, ash) was conducted by CytoGene Research and Development Laboratory Sahara States, Jankipuram, Lucknow.

C. Nutritive Analysis And Cost Estimation

The foremost consideration of this study was to produce low cost, iron rich product and to evaluate its iron content. The iron, proximate content and Daily Value% (DV%) was estimated and the results are- 100gm of Fruit Leathers possess 3.6 mg iron. The DV% was estimated against highest iron requirement i.e., 32 mg/day for adolescent girls of age 16- 18 years. The DV% for iron of 100gm Fruit Leather was 11.25%. The result of proximate analysis was up to par, The moisture content for 100 gm of Fruit Leather is 18.40%, one can estimate contamination rate by moisture percentage as it is directly proportional to each other, higher the moisture, higher will be contamination. The ash content is 20%, higher the ash content, higher will be mineral content. The dietary fibre content is 8.94%, according to RDA fibre requirement is 40 gm/day for 2000 Kcal according to that DV% of 100 gm FL provide 22.35% fibre. whereas carbohydrates are 30 gm/ 100 gm of sample, RDA for adolescence is 130 gm/day according to which the DV% for CHO of FL is 23.07%. The protein content is 0.88gm, the highest adolescent protein RDA is 55 gm/ day according to which 100 gm FL provide 1.6% DV% and the energy content of 100 gm of FL is 288.28 kcal energy. The product developed just not provide iron but also advantageous amount of fibre and carbohydrates, which will provide satiety as the product can be use as snacks to relief hunger between meal. Also the leather are so designed that are convenient to be carried as snacks in school lunch box, easy to consume (Table no. 6) 

Same was with Instant Sattu premix drink, 100 gm of SD contains 12.1 mg iron, according to this the DV% of iron for 100 gm SD was 37.5%. The moisture content for 100 gm of instant Sattu premix is 03%, the contamination rate will also be lower as it has low moisture content. The ash content is 03% for 100 gm of Instant Sattu premix, higher the ash content, higher will be mineral content. The fibre content is 16.03%, RDA fibre requirement is 40 gm/day for 2000 Kcal according to that DV% of 100 gm of SD is 40.075% whereas carbohydrates is 56 gm/ 100 gm of SD, RDA for adolescence is 130 gm/day according to which the DV% for CHO is 43.07%. The protein content is 20 gm for 100 gm of Instant Sattu premix, the highest adolescent protein RDA is 55 gm/ day according to which 100 gm SD provide 36% DV. And the energy SD provide is 160 kcal energy.SD provide enormous amount of iron, as well as protein. Good protein provides healthy muscle mass, good growth, the product SD can be beneficial to adolescent, and old age, because protein requirement is high during these stages (table no 7).

The total production cost of 100 gm of Fruit Leather was 11.05 Rs, while on adding packing charges, it cost for 12.5 Rs. 100 gm of Instant Sattu premix cost for 17.5 Rs, while adding packaging, it cost for 18.5 Rs.

Conclusion

The present study aimed to identify the nutritive potential of Garden cress seeds, as it contains 100 mg iron per 100 gm beside iron it has good amount of calcium and Phosphorous, and is cost effective. Two low-cost recipes, Fruit leather and Instant Sattu premix drink with three variants each were developed. Sensory evaluation was conducted using hedonic rating scale, rating was done on five attributes- colour, taste, appearance, texture and overall acceptability. Iron and proximate analysis was conducted for most liked variants and the results were up to par. On statistical analysis, it was verified that all variants of the products are significantly different from each other on all five attributes. The production and packaging cost were comparatively lower than market price. Hence the products developed are affordable by majority of public, particularly to lower income group and is rich in iron, it can we used as supplements to combat iron deficiency anaemia and as intervention tools to eliminate micro nutrient deficiency as it is pragmatic food model for food industries.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2023 Neerja Masih , Afreen Ashraf. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.