Estimation of thiamine, riboflavin and niacin content in jute leaves

Thiamine, riboflavin and niacin are essential nutrients and play vital role in oxidation-reduction reaction during energy production in the living cell of the body. Requirement of these vitamins must be met through diet as human body cannot synthesize thiamine and riboflavin. Small amount of niacin is synthesized in the body but major requirement must be met through external diet. Jute leaves are rich in different vitamins and minerals. Different varieties of fresh jute leaves as well as preserved leaves of Corchorus olitorius. L. and Corchorus capsularis L. were evaluated for thiamine, riboflavin and niacin content. Powder jute leaf were prepared through drying of leaves in cold (4 ̊C), oven (100 ̊C) and open air (±30 ̊C) and then ground following preservation at -20 ̊C in freezer. Thiamine content in fresh leaves of C. olitorius is 3.22 – 5.84 mg/g and in C. capsularis is 4.26 – 6.46 mg/g. Jute leaves in both species show riboflavin content 1.00 – 1.35 mg/g. Niacin was found in leaves of C. olitorius 12.01 – 19.12 mg/g and in C. capsularis 12.95 – 23.17 mg/g in different varieties. Preserved leaf powder of C. olitorius and C. capsularis contain 0.37 – 0.58 mg/g thiamine.  High amount of riboflavin was found in jute leaf powder of both species. Preserved leaf powder of C. olitorius shows 4.24 – 13.42 mg/g riboflavin and C. capsularis have 9.14 to 19.59 mg/g. Niacin content was found stable in preserved jute leaf powder. Preserved powder leaf of C. olitorius contain 8.4 - 14.8 mg/g niacin and leaves of C. capsularis have 5.8– 8.3 mg/g of niacin. There is no significant difference observed in leaves of different varieties of C. olitorius and C. capsularis regarding thiamine, riboflavin and niacin content. Drying showed different effect on vitamins in jute leaves, it reduced thiamine content, increased riboflavin content but did not affect much on niacin content in jute leaves in comparison to the fresh leaves. Different drying method did not show significant difference in thiamine, riboflavin and niacin content in jute leaves. Fresh jute leaves and preserved jute leaf powder both contain thiamine, riboflavin and niacin.