Biochemical and Antioxidant Constituents of Raw and Heat Processed Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Flour and its Shelf-Life Study (Ipomoea batatas)

Orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) has emerged as promising plant source with a high β-carotene content that can make a significant contribution of the vitamin A intate of individual of risk of vitamin A deficiency. This crop is used to overcome vitamin A deficiency in South Asia and Sub-Saharan region. The present study is conducted to highlight the biochemical composition, antinutrients, and β-carotene contents of Gauri veriety of OFSP and its flour. The proximate and mineral composition and some anti-nutritional factors of flour and raw tubers were determined using standard methods. The nutritional compositions of OFSP flour were found as moisture (5.80 ± 0.35 g/100g), crude protein (6.33 ± 0.05 %), fat (1.41 ± 0.03 %), ash (4.64 ± 0.05 %), crude fiber (4.43 ± 0.08 %), total sugar (14.43 ± 0.17 g/100g), reducing sugar (6.57 ± 0.18 g/100g) and non reducing sugar (7.86 ± 0.02 g/100g), carbohydrate (77.38 ± 0.50 %) and energy (347.55 ± 1.70 Kcal). The minerals content i.e., calcium, iron, and phosphorous content of OFSP flour were quantified as 126.59 ± 1.90 mg, 2.14 ± 0.06 mg, and 115.00 ± 2.10 mg/100g respectively. OFSP flour was significantly higher in terms of β-carotene, total carotenoids, and antioxidant activity. Sensory evaluation of OFSP flour was carried out for 90 days at an interval of 30 days. The results revealed that there was a declining trend in the scores of sensory attributes during storage, but it was well accepted and liked by the panelists over 90 days of storage period. Thus, it was found that OFSP flour have and excellent nutritional profile from the nutritional point of view the flour is rich in β-carotene and total carotenoid content and safe for human consumption at least for 90 days of storage period. Result of this study suggest that increased consumption of OFSP incorporated products can contribute considerably in alleviating dietary deficiency of vitamin-A a major public health concern of developing countries.