Comparative study of phytochemical content, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of Merr. mature plant and microgreen.

Merr. is a plant belonging to the Convolvulaceae family, commonly used as a vegetable in Southeast Asia. The plant harbours diverse bioactive constituents, including polyphenols and flavonoids. Microgreens have gained popularity as a cultivation trend. They are referred to as superfoods due to their high bioactive content, which is estimated to be up to 10 times greater than mature plants. Merr. microgreen and mature plant were investigated to determine their total phenol content using the Folin Ciocalteu method, total flavonoid content using AlCl, antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl and ferric reducing antioxidant power, and anti-inflammatory activity by protein denaturation inhibition . Microgreen demonstrated greater total phenolic content, directly associated with its high antioxidant activity compared to mature plants. However, the mature stage of Merr. remains superior in terms of overall flavonoid content and anti-inflammatory activity.