COMPARATIVE NUTRITIONAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING OF BLACK AND YELLOW–WHITE ABRUS PRECATORIUS L. SEED VARIETIES

Abstract: Abrus precatorius is a medicinally and nutritionally significant plant widely used in traditional systems of medicine. The present investigation focused on the proximate composition, preliminary phytochemical screening, and elemental analysis of two distinct seed varieties, namely black and white-yellow. Proximate analysis revealed considerable variation in nutritional parameters, including moisture, ash, crude protein, crude fibre, lipid, and carbohydrate content, suggesting differences in their nutritive potential. Phytochemical screening demonstrated the presence of major classes of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, phenols, and terpenoids, although their intensity varied between the seed varieties. Elemental detection further confirmed the occurrence of essential minerals, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and iron, along with trace elements that contribute to the therapeutic efficacy of the plant. Comparative evaluation highlighted that the black and yellow–white varieties differ significantly in both nutritional and phytochemical composition, indicating that seed coat colour may influence bioactive compound distribution. These findings provide a valuable scientific basis for the traditional use of A. precatorius seeds and support their potential applications in pharmacology, nutraceutical development, and further toxicological assessment.