NUTRITIONAL AND ANTIOXIDANT EVALUATION OF EARTHWORM POWDER

Abstract

Studies have been made to understand the nutritional, aminoacids and antioxidant concentrations in the dried powder of Eudrillus euginae, an African soil dweller. The nutritional factors such as carbohydrate, glucose, total free aminoacids, protein, vitamin A, and total phenol were determined. The individual aminoacids includes Histidine, Serine, Arginine, Methionine, Proline, Tryptophan, and Lysine was also quantified. The enzymatic antioxidants, such as Glutathione S transferase (GST), Glutathione reductase (GR), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) and the non- enzymatic antioxidant like Reduced Glutathione (GSH), Vitamin C and Vitamin E were assayed. The findings of the present study reveals that the earthworm is rich in protein, carbohydrate, fat and rich antioxidants suggest that this earthworm can be used as animal protein with good source of antioxidants.