Authors : V.G. Manwatkar
Page Nos : 52-61
Description :
Carbohydrates are vital biomolecules in plants, serving key roles in energy storage, metabolic processes, and structural integrity. The present study aimed to qualitatively evaluate sugars in leaf extracts (LE) and leaf protein concentrates (LPC) of selected wild and cultivated plant species using thin layer chromatography (TLC). Carbohydrates were detected in all species, with ten distinct sugars identified based on Rf values and color reactions compared with standards. D (+) – Xylose was the most consistently observed sugar, present in eight species in both
LE and LPC. D- (+) – Glucose, D- (–) – Arabinose and D- (–) – Fructose was detected in several leaf extracts, while sucrose was predominant in LPC. Species-specific sugars such as β-D- (+) – Glucose in Chenopodium album, lactose in Brassica oleracea, and maltose in Vigna trilobata were also recorded. In general, leaf extracts (LE) exhibited a wider range of sugars than leaf protein concentrates (LPC), suggesting that some soluble carbohydrates were lost
during the protein concentration process. These findings highlight species-specific carbohydrate profiles and confirm the nutritional significance of sugars in both wild and cultivated leafy plants.
