Abstract

Acacia nilotica, indigenously known as ‘Babool’ of family Leguminosae has many traditional and ethnobotanical uses. All the parts of tree are important and seeds are most abundantly available which are rich in different phytochemicals. Thus, the aim of this study was qualitative and quantitative analysis of phytochemicals and evaluation of the antioxidant activity in Acacia nilotica seed along with their parts viz. cotyledon and endosperm as a potential source in nutritional and medicinal applications. Phytochemicals as carbohydrate, protein, alkaloid, flavonoids, phenolics, saponin and tannin were present in seed, cotyledon and endosperm. Cotyledon was rich in sugar, carbohydrate, protein and oil, i.e. 4.73 %, 17.83 %, 30.45 % and 11.78 % respectively whereas endosperm was rich in phenolics and flavonoids i.e. 2.66 mg/g gallic acid equivalent and 7.66 mg/g quercetin equivalent respectively. Antioxidant activity studies showed that endosperm exhibited maximum percentage inhibition i.e. 74.07 % compared to the standard butylated hydroxyanisole having 82.88 % inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals. The study revealed that the specific utilization of Acacia nilotica seed have scope in nutritional supplements and as useful bioactive extracts for sustainable health benefits.