Comparative Study of Bioactive Components from Medicinal Plants for their Efficacy in Food Product Development for PCOS Women

Polycystic ovarian disease is one of the commonly observed endocrine disorder, mostly affecting women of child bearing age. PCOS women have a high risk for the development of severe metabolic disorders, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and sometimes endometrial cancer. Alternative complementary medication is the need of the hour to help PCOS women from the side effects of drug therapy. . Therefore this study aims at evaluating the bioactive efficacy of two medicinal plants Garcinia Cambogia and Berberis Aristata and incorporating their extracts in the development of two food products developed exclusively for PCOS women. The major bioactives found in Garcinia extracts were HCA (Hydroxy citric acid), total phenols (0.048 mg GAE/ g), total tannins (0.041 mg GAE/ g) and total flavonoids (0.31 mg QE/ g). While the key bioactives found in Berberis extracts were Berberine (protective alkaloid), total phenols (0.043 mg GAE/g), total tannins (0.056 mg GAE/ g) and total flavonoids (0.43 mg QE/ g). These bioactives positively treat the symptoms of PCOS, protect the body cells from harmful oxidative stress (free radical formation), aid in weight loss and regulate body metabolism. The developed food products from garcinia extracts and berberine extracts were subjected to sensory evaluation by sensory panelists (confirmed PCOS candidates) which were well accepted by them i. e with a mean of 6.77+0.72 and 5.66+1.13 respectively. Further shelf life study of the extracts and best accepted variation of developed food products were performed which indicated that products can be safely consumed upto 3 weeks while their respective extracts can be stored and consumed safely until 28 days.