Abstract
Objective: This study was conducted to assess the amino acid profiles of edible shoots of five species of bamboos growing in various geographical regions of India. Methods: Qualitative and quantitative estimation of free amino acids was done by Reverse Phase-Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-UHPLC). Separation of amino acids was carried out using Zorbax eclipse plus C18 Reverse Phase (1.8 μm), 50 mm × 2.1 mm column on quaternary UHPLC system using modified gradient elution. Derivatization was done by using auto-sampler Agilent’s 1290 infinity. Data assortment and processing were accomplished by using Open Lab Chromatography Data System EZchrome edition, version A.04.06 (Agilent technologies, USA). Results: In the study, 19 free amino acids were identified, eight essential, five conditionally essential, and six non-essential amino acids (EAA). The principal amino acids were tyrosine (29.41–74.64 μg/mg d.w.) and asparagine (12.81–111.04 μg/mg d.w.). The amount of EAAs ranged from 0.46 to 21.11 μg/mg d.w. For the 1st time, taurine and ornithine are reported in bamboo shoots. The analysis exhibited significant variation (p<0.05) in free amino acids content among the five studied species. Of the five species, Phyllostachys mannii was best compared to the other species in amino acid content. Conclusion: Results showed superior amino acid composition of bamboo shoots that can be utilized to improve nutritional value of functional foods. Amino acids have various health and therapeutic properties can contribute to the basis for further expansion of these bamboos and imminent potential in applications of food and pharmaceuticals.
Highlights
Dietary protein plays a vital role in regulating metabolic well-being as well as promoting health and longevity in humans
The results revealed the quantifiable variation in the concentration of identified free amino acids among the analyzed species
Bamboo shoots have great prospects to combat the deficiency of essential and conditionally EAAs (CEAA), especially in vegetarian diets. This is the first report regarding the presence of 19 free amino acids in edible shoots of five bamboos species
Summary
Dietary protein plays a vital role in regulating metabolic well-being as well as promoting health and longevity in humans. Recent studies indicate that amino acids are vital for their usage as nutritional supplements and have therapeutic potential due to their role in maintaining normal physiological, biochemical, and homeostatic mechanisms [6,7]. Out of twenty amino acids that are necessary for the formation of human proteins, nine are essential as they are not synthesized de novo by humans and need to be obtained from plant-based sources [11]. Despite their nutritional significance, EAAs such as lysine and methionine are lacking in several major crops such as cereals and legumes. Attention and research have been engrossed toward finding an alternative source of amino acids from several wild, underutilized plants as there is an increasing practice of formulation of food products with free amino acids [13]
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