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Total Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Meconopsis aculeata Royle: A High Value Medicinal Herb of Himalaya

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Meconopsis aculeata Royle (Family: Papaveraceae) is an important medicinal herb of the Himalayan region, used in the preparation of various traditional medicines by the local inhabitants. In the present study, diverse solvent systems (i.e., ethanol, methanol, acetone, acetonitrile, diverse concentration 50% and 80%, respectively) were used for extraction of bioactive constituents and revealed varied range of total phenolics (1.68–3.76 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (1.02–2.3 mg QE/g), flavonols (0.69–1.46 mg QE/g), tannins (1.25–3.83 mg TAE/g) and proanthocyanidin (0.34–0.81 mg CE/g). Similarly, in vitro antioxidant activity (i.e., ABTS 1.57–3.37, DPPH 1.03–2.35, FRAP 0.95–1.76, OH· 0.57–1.76 and NO· 0.33–0.92 mM AAE/100 g dry weight) was also recorded. The authors conclude that the species exhibits maximum bioactive constituents in the solvents of medium polarity and can be scaled up for further industrial applications.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to Dr. R.S. Rawal, Director, Govind Ballabh Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD) for facilities and encouragement. Financial support received from National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS/MG-2016/006), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) (Task Force-3), Department of Science and Technology is gratefully acknowledged. The authors are also thankful to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden (No. WL/Research-Study/1714 dated 28.07.2016) for study permission and to Dr. M. Kirupasankar, Deputy Conservator of Forest, Great Himalayan National Park for field and logistic guidance.

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  1. G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand, 263 643, India

    Amit Bahukhandi, K. Chandra Sekar, Anjali Barola, Monika Bisht & Poonam Mehta

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  1. Amit Bahukhandi
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  2. K. Chandra Sekar
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  3. Anjali Barola
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Correspondence to K. Chandra Sekar.

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Significance statement The study analyzed the total phenolic content and antioxidant components found in Meconopsis aculeata, a high value medicinal herb in Himalaya. Moderate polarity solvents such as methanol and acetone exhibited maximum harnessing potential. The result shows that the species has good source of natural antioxidants and polyphenolic contents, and can be further utilized for supplements of natural antioxidants.

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Bahukhandi, A., Sekar, K.C., Barola, A. et al. Total Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Meconopsis aculeata Royle: A High Value Medicinal Herb of Himalaya. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 89, 1327–1334 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-018-1054-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-018-1054-1

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