Screening of nutritional, phytochemical, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Chenopodium album (Bathua)

Chenopodium album (L.), Bathua is a fast-growing weedy annual plant in the genus Chenopodium. In the present work, we have attempted to study different characteristics of bathua in different solvents (petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, distilled water, and the mixture of all solvents in equal proportion), to understand its health benefits. Various studies were done to estimate phytochemicals like alkaloids, saponins, total flavonoids and total phenolics. Nutritional analysis proved it to be a potential source of energy, proteins, carbohydrates; ascorbic acid and beta carotene and minerals; potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, iron and zinc. The petroleum ether extract, methanol extract and aqueous extract of C. album revealed good antioxidant potential of ABTS and FRAP which proves them as potent electron and hydrogen donors. The methanol extract of C. album was found to be most active among all other extracts and inhibited Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli. The extract of a mixture of solvents was also found to be effective in inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus.