Comparison of nutritional, antinutritional, and phenolic compositions of Justicia wynaadensis (Nees) T.Anderson plant from Kodagu region of Karnataka harvested at different seasons

BACKGROUND: Medicinal plants have been utilized across different cultures as a source of therapeutic compounds. The present study delves into assessing the medicinal properties of the Indigenous plant, Justicia wynaadensis endemic to the Western Ghats of India, especially Kodagu, Karnataka, where it is consumed during specific periods for its believed health benefits. METHODS: Analysis of nutrients, antinutrient profile, phenolic content, betalains, and antioxidant property was evaluated using AOAC and standardized methods. The present study seeks to elucidate the variation observed for different harvested seasons of J. wynaadensis for its comprehensive composition. RESULTS: The available carbohydrates ranged from 746 to 16.50 and 6.54 to 13.30 g/100 g in the leaf and stem parts of the plant, respectively. Total phenolic content varied from 0.82 to 1.21 g gallic acid equivalent/100 g, whereas, total flavonoid content varied from 0.41 to 1.07 g catechin equivalent/100 g. Total anthocyanin content and total carotenoid content varied from 8730 to 296 mg C3G/100 g and 3.23 to 23.02 mg/100 g, respectively. Betaxanthin and betacyanin contents were ranging between 0.436-0.986 and 19.13-40.41 μg/100 g. CONCLUSION: The comparison was done for pre-consumption (Season 1, July), consumption (Season 2, August), and post-consumption (Season 3, September) periods and was found for the variation in the nutritional and phenolic compositions between different seasons. The result showed significant quantities of antioxidants during the consumption phase in both the leaves and stem part and maximum phenolic content and minimum antinutrient content in the stem part of the plant. The study validates the traditional practice of consuming the medicinal plant J. wynaadensis by the people of Kodagu district during the August month of the year.