Phytochemical investigation and in-vitro antioxidant activity of Sesbania sesban and Sesbania grandiflora seeds

Sesbania seed is known for green manure to improve the soil fertility and also for animal fodder. Two varieties of Sesbania seeds, i.e. S. sesban and S. grandiflora, were investigated for their physico-chemical, phytochemicals and antioxidant activity to evaluate feasibility of use as an unconventional food resource. Seeds were separated in optimized and standardized condition in seed coat, germ and endosperm. Quantification of phytochemicals, viz. crude protein, total carbohydrate, total fat, total starch, total soluble sugar, total phenolic, flavonoid and tannins was carried out using standard methods, i.e. 7.06–54.69%, 50.27–90.05%, 0.52–9.54%, 0.4–4.8%, 0.01–0.147%, 0.01–0.147%, 0.01–0.62% and 0.02–1.27%, respectively. S. grandiflora seed was shown maximum antioxidant activity (89.67%) in comparison with ascorbic acid as standard drug. Hence, it is similar to some edible legumes which possess bioactive compound with therapeutic value and can be efficiently explored for the development of new functional or nutraceutically valued food/feed/pharmaceutical valued products to commercial and overcoming the malnutrition problem.