Impact of elevated CO₂ on yield, nutritional and medicinal properties of Corchorus olitorius

Human activities like burning fossil fuels and destroying forests have greatly boosted atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂₎. Scientists have linked this CO₂ increase to global warming, climate change, and rising sea levels, heat waves, and precipitation patterns. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to examine how increased CO₂ levels affect the productivity, nutritional value, and therapeutic efficacy of Corchorus olitorius. Phenolic characterization was carried out, while growth performance and leaf count were recorded. There was also an examination of the plant’s antioxidant properties, minerals and vitamin contents. Both α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity were used to evaluate the antidiabetes and antihypertensive effects of the plant, respectively. The results reveal that the growth performance and number of leaves of C. olitorius are modulated by the elevation of CO₂ and days of exposure to CO₂, with the greatest results obtained at 800 ppm CO₂ concentration on day 21 of the experiment. Elevated CO₂ considerably reduced the total flavonoid content, ABTS, and DPPH radical scavenging capabilities at all concentrations except 600 ppm, which displays a better outcome when compared to others. However, at 1000 ppm, the antioxidant indices began to rise. Antidiabetic and antihypertensive effects were also boosted by the higher CO₂ concentration. The increased CO₂ levels improve the productivity, nutrient content, and therapeutic properties of C. olitorius, as shown by the current study. The results of this study provide evidence that C. olitorius grown in environments with high levels of carbon dioxide might have therapeutic value.