COMPREHENSIVE NUTRITIONAL , PHYTOCHEMICAL AND GC-MS PROFILING OF FRESH AND DRIED CHICKPEA (Cicerarietinum L.) MICROGREENS

Background: Chickpea (Cicerarietinum L.) microgreens are nutrient-rich plant foods containing proteins, minerals, pigments and diverse phytochemicals. This study focused to evaluate the nutritional and phytochemical characteristics of fresh and dried chickpea microgreens and profiled the major phytoconstituents of the dried powder by GC-MS. Methods: Fresh microgreens and samples dried at 65 C for 3 h 30 min were analysed for proximate composition, chlorophyll, phenolics, sugars, vitamins, minerals and major phytochemical groups using standard methods. Methanolic extracts of the dried powder were further subjected to GC-MS analysis.