Profile of organic acids, glycosides and phenolic compounds in the leaves of Telfairia occidentalis cultivated in hydroponic and geoponic media using water 616/626 HPLC as a tool

Abstract

The Water 616/626 HPLC was used as a tool for identifying and quantifying the organic acids, glycosides and phenolic compounds of Telfairia occidentalis pumpkin leaves grown in hydroponic and geoponic media. Standard procedures were adopted for the determination of these secondary metabolites. The study showed that the organic acids, glycosides and phenolic compounds of T. occidentalis leaves grown in hydroponic and geoponic media varied in composition and concentration. Also, the total organic acids, total glycosides and phenolic compounds were more in the T. occidentalis leaves grown in hydroponic condition compared to geoponic medium. The T. occidentalis leaves had total organic acids (6.880 g/100g; 6.508 g/100g), total glycosides (6.762 g/100g; 4.549 g/100g) and phenolic compounds (2.032 g/100g; 1.387 g/100g) for hydroponic and geoponic media, respectively. However, individual components of organic acids, glycosides and phenolics revealed variation in concentration between the media. Shikimic acid was the predominant organic acid among the organic acids assessed in both hydroponic (28.76%) and geoponic (44.73%) media while E-strophanthin acid (21.37%; 23.92%) was the most abundant glycoside out of the total glycosides in that order. Phenolic profiles of T. occidentalis leaves showed 45 phenolic compounds, which had some important phenolics such as ferulic, cinnamic acid and p-coumaric acid. To effectively harness these secondary metabolites, the study recommends the use of hydroponic system for cultivation of T. occidentalis.