Phytochemical, nutritional analysis and antibacterial evaluation of leaf of Coriandrum sativum L. grown in organic media

The phytochemical composition, nutritional profile, and antibacterial properties of Coriandrum sativum L. are comparatively reduced in soilless cultivation systems like Peat-based media compared to traditional soil-based cultivation. Nevertheless, soilless systems offer advantages in terms of increased yield, water use efficiency, and improved nutrient management. A study was conducted to evaluate nine treatments comprising five distinct soilless substrates coconut shell powder-CSP, vermicompost, dried coir pith, rice husk, and perlite in various combinations, compared against soil cultivation in a vertical garden setup. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of methanolic extracts from 45-day-old coriander leaves identified 31 bioactive compounds. The phytochemical profile exhibited significant variability in terms of peak area (PA) percentage and retention time (RT), with notable compounds including tetradecanoic acid and hexadecanoic acid. Biochemical assays revealed that the CSP and P combination yielded significantly higher (p<0.05) total sugar (6.32%) and reducing sugar (2.49%) concentrations compared to other treatments. The dried coir pith and vermicompost combination demonstrated significantly elevated total phenol content (2.46%). Additionally, dried coir pith exhibited a balanced acidity profile (0.59%). The treatments also influenced the concentrations of various nutrients, including ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and starch. Antibacterial susceptibility tests demonstrated that methanolic leaf extracts possess antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with E. coli exhibiting marginally larger zones of inhibition (11 mm) compared to S. aureus (10 mm). These findings elucidate the potential of soilless cultivation systems for optimizing coriander production while highlighting the plant's phytochemical diversity and antimicrobial properties. These attributes warrant further investigation for potential applications in the pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors.