Nutritional Composition and Phytochemical Analysis of Ragi Microgreens

Ragi (elusine coracana) is one of the staple pseudocereal well known for his multitude of beneficial roles in promoting health and general wellbeing. Though it is one of the common millets and majorly consumed in south and north part of India, nutritional potential of ragi microgreens is yet to be explored. Considering other established microgreen’s nutritional significance, possible health implications, antioxidant properties and erythropoietic activity, present study was undertaken to estimate nutritional composition, qualitative phytochemical analysis, and quantification of bioactive ingredients of lyophilized ragi microgreens. Since lyophilisation is considered superior technique in preserving heat labile compounds, compared to other dehydration methods, it was used as the preferred sample for present study. Nutrient composition of ragi microgreens was found to be impressive with a protein content of 13.3 gm percent, crude fibre content 8 gm percent, iron mg percent vitamin C 112 mg percent and calcium are 91 gm percent. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed presence of terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and sterols. Total chlorophyll estimation indicated that total chlorophyll content of lyophilized ragi microgreen is 623 mg/100 gm.