Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF OATS (AVENA SATIVA)

*Gargi Das and Maria M Joseph

Abstract

Phytochemicals are bioactive plant compounds that have protective or disease preventive properties. They are found in fruits, vegetables, beans, grains and other plants. They have biological properties such as antioxidant activity, modulation of detoxification enzymes, stimulation of immune system, modulation of hormone metabolism and anticancer property. The present study aims at exploiting the presence of various phytochemicals present in fermented oats (Avena sativa) and nonfermented oats (Avena sativa). The results clearly revealed the presence of phytochemicals such as tannin, alkaloid, quinones, phenols and anthraquinones in fermented oats and tannin, alkaloid and quinones in non-fermented oats. The total phenol content of fermented oats was found to be 67.2 mg catechol equivalent /g.

Keywords: oats, fermented oats, phytochemicals and phenols.