Spectrophotometric and titrimetric analysis of phytoascorbate

Abstract

Two phytoascorbate (vitamin C) quantification protocols viz., spectrophotometric (DNPH) and titrimetric (Iodine and DCIP), were comparatively evaluated for the analytical efficiencies using 16 different botanicals. Results were validated by performing a relative phytoascorbate recovery study. Spectrophotometric quantification process (DNPH) showed highest quantum of ascorbate in all the botanicals as compared to that of the titrimetric (Iodine and DCIP) process. The quantum of ascorbate measured by DCIP and Iodine method was almost at parity with each other. The highest value of vitamin C mg /g dry weight (28.340) was recorded in E. officinalis fruit pulp followed by Moringa oleifera leaves (20.437), Carica papaya leaves (11.987) Citrus lemon peel (11.765) and Citrus lemon leaves (10.870).