Impact of Trianthema Portulacastrum Linn (Saravallai) Incorporated Dhal Powder on the Blood Iron Status of Anemic Adolescent Girls

Gopi E

Published on: 2022-10-14

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescence is considered as a nutritionally critical period of life. Anemia is the most prevalent nutritional problem worldwide and it is mainly caused due to iron deficiency. India has the world’s highest prevalence of iron deficiency anemia among women, with 60 to 70 percent of the adolescent girls being anemic. Trianthema portulacastrum Linn is an herb used in ayurvedic medicine. Different parts of Trianthema portulacastrum Linn, are traditionally used as analgesic, stomachic, laxative, treatment of blood disease, anemia, inflammation, and night blindness.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of “Saravallai dhal powder” (Trianthema portulacastrum linn) in improving the blood iron profile of anemic adolescent girls.

Materials and Methods: Saravallai dhal powder (SDP) was prepared from Trianthema portulacastrum Linn (Saravallai) leaf Powder” and dhal powder (Bengal gram, Roasted Bengal gram, Black gram and Groundnut (1:1:1:1) were mixed in 1:1 proportion. Energy (Computed), moisture, ash, fiber, carbohydrate (difference method), protein, iron, and calcium were estimated in triplicates. Initially blood hemoglobin was estimated for one hundred girls. Eighty anemic adolescent volunteers were chosen out of hundred (control group n=40 and experimental group n=40) and 20g of saravallai dhal powder (SDP) was supplemented to the experimental group for 90 days.

Result: The SDP contained energy (1885.47 ± 74.39kJ), carbohydrate (58.89 ± 2.21g %), protein (23.74 ± 0.53g), fat (7.94 ± 2.52g %), crude fiber 18.6 ± 0.52g %), ash (12.3g ± 0.2g), calcium (589.33 ± 8.14mg), iron (30.13 ± 2.40mg), Zinc (0.9 ± 0.10mg), carotene (544.66 ± 28.30μg), thiamine and riboflavin (0.32 ± 0.02mg, 0.1 ± 0.02mg). The girls’ blood iron parameters (Hb (12.92 ± 1.24),RBCcount (4.30 ± 0.41),PCV(38.77 ± 3.74),SI( 65.67 ± 32.62),TIBC(391 ± 45.39),Transferrin Saturation (20.9 ± 7.60) and SF (30.45 ± 14.99)) improved considerably after supplementation.

Conclusion: Saravallai (Trianthema portulacastrum Linn) dhal Powder improves blood iron parameters. T. portulacastrum has been proved to possess strong anthelminthic activity in vivo. The beneficial effects of this underutilized green to tackle anemia, at a much lower cost without any side effects.

Conclusions: The anti-oxidant capacities of U-74389G ascribe 11.4937-fold more hyperkalemic effects than Epo (p-value=0.0000).