Nutritional composition, phytochemicals, and antioxidant activities of Abies marocana Trab. needles

Abstract

Introduction: Finding natural sources of bioactive compounds is turning into a cutting- edge task for the scientifc community and industry alike. Abies marocana, Moroccan fr, holds great importance due to its ecological, economic, social, and cultural signifcance. Material and Methods: The current study aimed to evaluate the needles of Abies marocana in terms of its nutritional and anti-nutrient content, bioactive components, and antioxidant capacity. The AOAC technique was used to determine the composition of the needles. Mineral content was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Phytochemical screening of methanol extract was performed using standard procedures, and multiple assays evaluated antioxidant activity. The extract’s volatile profle was elucidated using GC-MS method. Results and Discussion: The presence of various components in the needles was discovered through proximate analysis, including carbohydrates, crude protein, crude fber, crude fat, ash, and moisture. Anti-nutrients such as chlorophyll, carotenoids, and vitamin A were confrmed. Needles are a rich source of mineral elements and contain signifcant levels of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and phytosterols. Palmitic acid, 17-octadecynoic acid, and (Z)-18- octadec-9-enolide were the main components identifed by GC-MS analysis. The methanolic extract exhibited substantial antioxidant capacity. The DPPH scavenging activity displayed a remarkable percentage inhibition. The integration of Abies marocana needles into sustainable diets can contribute to the well- being of humans and the planet, since the nutrient and bioactive compounds present have potential applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries.