A Qualitative Estimation of Secondary Metabolites in Selected Leafy Vegetables Cultivated in Hydroponic System – Part I

Abstract— Leafy vegetables are important in medicine and are easily accessible, making them the most affordable source of treatment in the primary healthcare system for poor communities. Phytochemicals are plant components with specific bioactivities in animal biochemistry and metabolism. They are being extensively studied for their potential to provide health benefits. It is crucial to establish a scientific rationale to support their use in foods as potential nutritionally active components. Some of the significant phytochemicals with a variety of biological functions include alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, terpenoids, steroids, glycosides, and terpenes. The current investigation evaluates the phytochemical profiles of a sample of 8 leafy vegetable species cultivated in both soil-based and hydroponic growing environments. The study found that some species in both cultivation methods contain phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids. The importance of specific plant species is examined in relation to their role in ethnomedicine, and these results will be useful for further comparative studies of phytochemistry in beds and for subsequent studies on hydroponic cultivation.