Journal Article

The Effect of Craseonycteris thonglongyai (Hog-nosed Bat) Droppings on the Antioxidant Constituents in Ocimum gratissimum (Basil) Leaf

Abstract

Leafy vegetables are among the major sources of antioxidants that play critical roles in human nutrition and wellbeing of individuals, as they are important in the maintenance and strengthening of immune systems. The concentrations of these health-protecting and maintaining compounds in vegetables, among other environmental factors are influenced by the physicochemical properties of the soils. It is for this reason, the research is designed to investigate the influence of Craseonycteris thonglongyai droppings on the improvement of some antioxidants (β-carotene, ascorbic acid, lycopene, chlorophyll, tocopherol, carotenoid, flavonoid and phenol) in the leaf of Ocimum gratissimum.. The leaves of O. gratissimum cultivated with Craseonycteris thonglongyai droppings and chemical fertilizer (commercial reference) were harvested at the vegetative phase and subjected to standard analytical methods. The concentrations of tocopherol, lycopene, chlorophyll, β-carotene, total carotenoid, flavonoid and phenol were determined by spectrophotometric method while ascorbic acid content was analysed by titrimetric method. The results showed that the application of C. thonglongyai droppings and chemical fertilizer significantly increased (p < 0.05) the concentration of β-carotene in O. gratissimum, though; the concentration of this parameter was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the vegetable treated with the organic fertilizer. While the concentration of vitamin C in O. gratissimum fertilized with C. thonglongyai droppings and Chemical fertilizer did not differ significantly from each other, the concentration of the parameter in the vegetable treated with C. thonglongyai droppings was significantly higher than the control. Similarly, whereas the application of chemical fertilizer has no significant effect on the concentrations of lycopene, chlorophyll, vitamin E, carotenoid, flavonoid and phenol in O. gratissimum, the concentrations of these antioxidants increased significantly with the application of C. thonglongyai droppings. The study concludes that the application of C. thonglongyai droppings elevated the concentrations of the antioxidants evaluated in the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum than conventional chemical fertilizer (commercial reference) and should be the prefer fertilizer in growing the vegetable for enhancement of the antioxidant constituents.

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