Nutritional and Functional Proprieties of Cyclamen persicum
Rahma Fathi Awad, صبري صغير, محمد تميمي
كلية الدراسات العليا-جامعة الخليل · فلسطين
Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum), an herbaceous plant from the Primulaceae family native to the Eastern Mediterranean. Despite its toxic leaves, C. persicum has culinary uses in Palestinian cuisine and traditional medicinal applications (e.g. antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory).The study samples were collected from Qalqilya and Beit-Ummar. The leaves and flowers, after being dried and ground, were examined for total ash, mineral content, fiber, antioxidant capacity, total phenols, and antibacterial activity. Analytical methods included atomic absorption spectroscopy for minerals, fiber analysis with a fiber analyzer, antioxidant assays using DPPH and ABTS, and antibacterial sensitivity testing against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The findings aim to elucidate the nutritional, functional, and medicinal potential of Cyclamen persicum.The study compared Cyclamen persicum samples from Qalqilya and Beit-Ummar, results showed that Qalqilya leaves had the highest ash content of 12.11%, while Beit-Ummar flowers exhibit the highest fiber content of 13.42%. Minerals analysis revealed that Beit-Ummar leaves had higher calcium, and sodium of 0.759, and 0.273, respectively.While, Qalqilya leaves had higher magnesium and potassium of 0.294, and 0.5305, respectively. Antioxidant ABTS assay demonstrated highest activity in Qalqilya flowers 67.17% compared to 63.59% for Beit-Ummar samples. However, DPPH assay demonstrated higher antioxidant activity in Bei-Ummar leaves 32.36% compared with Qalqilya leaves of 23%. Total phenolic content was greatest in Bei-Ummar flowers of 267.22 ±51 mgGAE/g. No antibacterial activity was observed in any of the C. persicum extracts. These results underscore Cyclamens' potential health benefits and advocate for further research into its medicinal and nutritional applications. , .