Understanding the phytochemical constitution, antioxidant potential and spectral characteristics of aqueous extracts of the chosen leafy vegetables from south India

Subject Areas : Food Science and Food Chemistry

Sobha Kota ¹ , Pradeep Dumpala ² , Hariseetharam Prasad Dachepalli ³ , Anantha Ratna Kumari ⁴

1 - Department of Biotechnology, RVR & JC College of Engineering, Chowdavaram, Guntur-522019, Andhra Pradesh, India
2 - Department of Biotechnology, RVR & JC College of Engineering, Chowdavaram, Guntur-522019, Andhra Pradesh, India
3 - Department of Biotechnology, RVR & JC College of Engineering, Chowdavaram, Guntur-522019, Andhra Pradesh, India
4 - Centre for Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar, Guntur-522 010, Andhra Pradesh, India

Received: 2017-12-30 Accepted : 2018-05-27 Published : 2018-06-01

Keywords: Phytochemical constituents, Total Phenolic Content, Leafy vegetables, Ascorbic acid, Antioxidant potential, silver nanoparticles,

Abstract :

The phytochemical composition, total phenolic and ascorbic acid contents of the aqueous extracts of six south Indian leafy vegetables viz. Amaranthus viridis L, Hibiscus cannabinus L, Spinacea oleracea L, Mentha spicata L, Murraya koenigii L and Coriandrum sativum L were tested, characterized and the antioxidant potential evaluated. Also, aqueous leaf extracts of A. viridis and H. cannabinus were demonstrated for their ability to form silver nanoparticles. All the aqueous extracts demonstrated the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins (except M. koenigii) and terpenoids (except S. oleracea) while phlobatannins (only in M. spicata), steroids, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids and proteins were absent in all the leaves tested. Carbohydrates were found only in the aqueous extract of H. cannabinus. The total phenolic content was the order of 0.9, 0.2, 1.8, 0.8 and 2.1 mgGAE/g of the leaves for A. viridis, H. cannabinus, M. spicata, M. koenigii and C. sativum respectively while S. oleracea did not respond to total phenolic content assay by FC method. Ascorbic acid, present in all the leafy vegetables with the lowest value of 0.3 mg/g in M. spicata and highest value of 1.9 mg/g in C. sativum. A highly significant DPPH radical scavenging activity was found in H. cannabinus (82.76%) followed by M. spicata (78.08%) and C. sativum (69.76%) at an extract concentration of 31.25 mg/ml while A. viridis, S. oleracea and M. koenigii showed 72.95%, 58.27% and 75.38% respectively at a concentration of 50 mg/ml. FT-IR spectral characterization of the extracts and the synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) indicated the presence of N-H amines, O-H stretch, C-H out of plane bending vibrations, C=C stretching of alkenes, C=O stretch of amide and C≡C stretch of alkynes. The leafy vegetables can be used for the synthesis of lead compounds which will cure diseases.

References:

Aidi Wannes, W., Mhamdi, B., Saidani Tounsi, M., Marzouk, B., 2017. Lipid and volatile composition of borage (Borago officinalis L.) leaf. Trends Phytochem. Res. 1(3), 143-148.

Alam, M.N., Bristi, N.J., Rafiquzzaman, M., 2013. Review on in vivo and in vitro methods evaluation of antioxidant activity. Saudi Pharm. J. 21,143-152.

Das, R., Nath, S.S., Chakdar, D., Gope, G., Bhattacharjee, R., 2009. Preparation of silver nanoparticles and their characterization. J. Mat. Online, doi:10.2240/azojono0129.

Gacche, R.N., Kabaliye, V.N., Dhole, N.A., Jadhav, A.D., 2010. Antioxidant potential of selected vegetables commonly used in diet in Asian subcontinent. Indian J. Nat. Prod. Resour. 1(3), 306-313.

Gaikwad, P.S., Shete, R.V., Otari, K.V., 2010. Spinacia oleracea Linn: A pharmacognostic and pharmacological overview. Int. J. Res. Ayurveda Pharm. 1(1), 78-84.

Geoprincy, G., VidhyaSri, B.N., Poonguzhali, U., Nagendra Gandhi, N., Renganathan, S., 2013. A review on green synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Asian J. Pharm. Clin. Res. 6, Suppl.1, 8-12.

Gulcin, I., Bursal, E., Sehitoglu, M.B., Bilsel, M., Goren, A.C., 2010. Polyphenol contents and antioxidant activity of lyophilized aqueous extract of propolis from Eruzurum, Turkey. Food Chem. Toxicol. 48, 2227-2238.

Gulcin, I., 2012. Antioxidant activity of food constituents: An overview. Arch. Toxicol. 86, 345-391.

Gupta, S., Prakash, J., 2009. Studies on Indian green leafy vegetables for their antioxidant activity. Plant Foods Hum. Nutr. 64, 39-45.

Handral, H.K., Pandith, A., Shruthi, S.D., 2012. A review on Murraya koenigi: multipotential medicinal plant. Asian J. Pharm. Clin. Res. 5(4), 5-14.

Hsu, C.Y., Chan, Y.P., Chang, J., 2007. Antioxidant activity of extract from Polygonum cuspidatum. Biol. Res. 40, 13-21.

Hunter, K.J., Fletcher, J.M., 2002. The antioxidant activity and composition of fresh, frozen, jarred and canned vegetable. Innov. Food Sci. Emerg. Technol. 3, 399-406.

Jaiswal, S.G., Patel, M., Saxena, D.K., Naik, S., 2017. Comparison of measurements of antioxidant activity in the selected leafy vegetables depending on extraction solvent. J. Hort. Res. 25(2), 75-80.

Kasthuri, J., Kathiravan, K., Rajendran, N., 2009. Phyllanthin assisted biosynthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles - a novel biological approach. J. Nanopart. Res. 11, 1075-1085.

Lee, Y.G., Byeon, S.E., Kim, J.Y., Lee, J.Y., Rhee, M.H., Hong, S., Wu, J.C., Lee, H.S., Kim, M.J., Cho, D.H., Cho, J.Y., 2007. Immunomodulatory effect of Hibiscus cannabinus extract on macrophage functions. J. Ethnopharmacol. 113, 62-71.

Liu, R.H., 2003. Health benefits of fruits and vegetables are from additive and synergistic combination of phytochemicals. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. Suppl. 3, 517-520.

Mahendra, O., Bisht, S., 2011. Coriandrum sativum: A daily use spice with great medicinal effect. Phcog. J. 21(3), 84-88.

Al-Ani, M., Opara, L.U., Al-Bahri, D., Al Rahbi, M., 2007. Spectrophotometric quantification of ascorbic acid contents of fruit and vegetables using the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method. J. Food Agric. Environ. 5(3), 165-168.

McDonald, S., Prenzler, P.D., Autolovich, M., Robards, K., 2001. Phenolic content and antioxidant activity of olive extracts. Food Chem. 73, 73-84.

Meena, H., Pandey, H.K., Pandey, P., Arya, M.C., Ahmed, Z., 2012. Evaluation of antioxidant ativity of two important memory enhancing medicinal plants Baccopa monnieri and Centella asiatica. Indian J. Pharmacol. 44(1), 114-117.

Mohammadhosseini, M., 2017a. The ehnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological properties and medicinal applications of essential oils and extracts of different Ziziphora species. Ind. Crops Prod. 105, 164-192.

Mohammadhosseini, M., 2017b. Essential oils extracted using microwave assisted hydrodistillation from aerial parts of eleven Artemisia species: Chemical compositions and diversities in different geographical regions of Iran. Rec. Nat. Prod. 11(2), 114-129.

Mohammadhosseini, M., Akbarzadeh, A., Flamini, G., 2017b. Profiling of compositions of essential oils and volatiles of Salvia limbata using traditional and advanced techniques and evaluation for biological activities of their extracts. Chem. Biodivers. 14(5).

Mohammadhosseini, M., Akbarzadeh, A., Hashemi Moghaddam, H., Mohammadi Nafchi, A., Mashayekhi, H.A., Aryanpour, A., 2016. Chemical composition of the essential oils from the aerial parts of Artemisia sieberi by using conventional hydrodistillation and microwave assisted hydrodistillation: A comparative study. J. Essent. Oil-Bear. Plants. 19(1), 32-45.

Mohammadhosseini, M., Sarker, S.D., Akbarzadeh, A., 2017a. Chemical composition of the essential oils and extracts of Achillea species and their biological activities: A review. J. Ethnopharmacol. 199, 257-315.

Neerj, T., Prakash, A., Seema, Y., 2013. Antimicrobial activity and medicinal values of essential oil of Mentha piperita L. Int. J. Eng. Technol. Sci. Innov. 2(8), 214-218.

Niraimathi, K.L., Sudha, V., Lavanya, R., Brindha, P., 2013. Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Alternanthera sessilis (Linn.) extract and their antimicrobial, antioxidant activities. Colloids Surf. B. Biointerfaces 102, 288-291.

Nunes, H.S., Miguel, M.G., 2017. Rosa damascene essential oils: a brief review about chemical composition and biological properties. Trends Phytochem. Res. 1(3), 111-128.

Oomah, B.D., Mazza, G., 2000. Functional Foods. In: Francis FJ (Ed), The Wiley Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, 2ndEd. Wiley, New York, pp. 1176-1182.

Pavunraj, M., Ramasubbu, G., Baskar, K., 2017. Leucas aspera (Wild.) L.: Antibacterial, antifungal and mosquitocidal activities. Trends Phytochem. Res. 1(3), 135-142.

Poojary, M.M., Vishnumurthy, K. A., Adhikari, A. V., 2015. Extraction, characterization and biological studies of phytochemicals from Mammeasuriga. J. Pharm. Anal. 5(3), 182-189.

Prakash, P., Gupta, N., 2005. Therapeutic uses of Ocimum sanctum Linn (tulsi) with a note on eugenol and its pharmacological actions: a short review. Indian J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 49(2), 125-131.

Prasad, T.N.V.K.V., Elumalai, E., 2011. Biofabrication of Ag nanoparticles using Moringa oleifera leaf extract and their antimicrobial activity. Asian Pac. J. Trop. Biomed. 1, 439-442.

Prior, R.L., Cao, G., 2000. Antioxidant phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables: Diet and health implications. Hort. Science 35(4), 588-592.

Rimm, E.B., Ascherio, A., Grovannucci, E., Spielgelman, D., Stampfer, M. J., Willett, W.C., 1996. Vegetable, fruit and cereal fiber intake and risk of coronary heart disease among men. JAMA 275, 447-451.

Sadasivam, S., Manickam, A., 2005. Ascorbic acid-colorimetric analysis. In: Biochemical methods, 2nd Ed. New Age International Publishers, New Delhi, India.

Sobha, K., Vayunandana Rao, G., Ratna Kumari, A., Verma, M.K., 2017a. An investigation into phytochemical constituents, antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-cataract activity of Alternanthera sessilis, a predominant wild leafyvegetable of South India. Biocatal. Agric. Biotechnol. 10, 197-203.

Sobha, K., Pradeep, D., Ratna Kumari, A., Verma, M.K., Surendranath, K., 2017b. Evaluation of the therapeutic potential of the silver chloride nanoparticles synthesized with the aqueous leaf extract of Rumex acetosa. Sci. Rep. 7, 11566.

Stanly, C., Bhatt, A., Ali, H.M.D., Keng, C.L., Lim, B.P., 2011. Evaluation of free radical scavenging activity and total phenolic content in the petiole derived callus cultures of Zinziber zerumbet Smith. J. Med. Plant. Res.5(11), 2210-2217.

Sowjanya, P., Srinivasababu, P., Lakshmi Narasu, M., 2014. Phytochemical and pharmacological potential of Amaranthus viridis L. Int. J. Phytomed. 6, 322-326.

Steimez, K.A., Potter, J.D., 1996. Vegetables, fruits and cancer prevention: a review. J. Am. Diet Assoc. 96, 1027-1039.

Trease, G.E., Evans, W.C., 1989. Pharmacognosy. 13th (Ed). ELBS/Bailliere Tindall, London. pp. 345-346, 535-536, 772-773.