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International Journal of ChemTech Research CODEN (USA): IJCRGG, ISSN: 0974-4290, ISSN(Online):2455-9555 Vol.10 No.4, pp 306-310, 2017
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Comparative Estimation of Phenol and Flavonoid Content of Medicinally Important Plant – Amaranthus curentus
Rasika Torane1*,2, Sucheta Gaikwad1, 2, Eliza Khatiwora3, Vaishali Adsul3
1Dr. T. R. Ingle Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, S. P. College, Pune - 411030, India.
2Department of Chemistry, S. P.College, Pune-411030, India
3.Department of Chemistry, Yashwantrao Mohite College, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Deem
University, Pune 411038, India
Abstract : Amaranthus cruentus is a medicinal plant commonly found as a leafy vegetable. It belongs to family Amaranthaceae and distributed all over the world. A. cruentus has high nutritional value. Protein content of Amaranth grain is much higher than other grains like wheat and rye.Amaranth seeds, seed oil and leaves are used for health benefits such as to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and weight, increase immunity, treat anemia, gastro intestinal tract disorders , antioxidant properties and anti inflammatory properties. Lunasin, a peptide in Amaranth seeds is considered to exert anti cancer properties. The consumption of A.cruentus products is advised for patients with celiac disease, therefore for diabetic persons.Owing to these properties, the present study was designed to investigate the total phenol and flavonoid content of various extracts of A. cruentus aerial parts spectrophotometrically. Extracts were prepared using solvents of different polarity ranging from semi polar to polar.
The total phenol contents in the extract was calculated as pyrrocatechol equivalent(r2 = 0.934). It ranges from 341.47 to 1611.66 mg/g. Phenol contents in ethyl acetate extract are significantly lower whereas highest in ethanol extract. The total flavonoid content in the extract was calculated as quercetin equivalent (r2 = 0.993). Total flavonoid ranges from 1.44 to 4.95 mg/g. Flavonoid quantities in aqueous extract are significantly lower whereas highest in ethanol extract. This preliminary study is certainly useful for further biological study. These results provide data that make it promising to classify extracts in respect to their antioxidant potential.
Keywords : Amaranthus curentus, Amaranthaceae, Spectrophotometer, Phenol and Flavonoid.
Introduction
The medicinal plants have been in the focus as life saving drugs right from beginning of human civilization. The medicinal plants have been the object of research in both classical and advanced areas of plant sciences. Natural products have regained its importance in recent years and several laboratories all over the world are engaged in isolation, purification and identification of bio- active principles from natural source. Plants are able to synthesize a multitude of organic molecules/ phytochemical referred to as “secondary metabolites” 1, 2. Medicinal plants are rich source of secondary metabolites, exerting specific physiological effect on mammalian system and hence called active principles.
These molecules play variety of role in the life span of plants, ranging from structural ones to protection. Phenol compounds are regarded as one such group that is synthesized by plants during development1-3 and in response to conditions such as infection, wounding, UV radiation 4,5 etc. Phenols are associated with diverse functions, including nutrient uptake, protein synthesis, enzyme activity, photosynthesis, structural components and allelopathy 6-8. Compounds of phenol show an array of health promoting benefits in human health.
Flavonoids, one of the important groups of secondary metabolites, are water soluble phenolic glycosides. Their contribution to physiological functions such as seed maturation and dormancy has already been established 9. A simple definition describes flavonoids as “any group of substances found in fruits and vegetables essential for processing vitamin- C and needed to maintain capillary wall”. They may aid in protecting against infection. Deficiency can result in bruise. These flavonoids display a remarkable array of biochemical and pharmacological actions viz., anti inflammatory, antioxidant, antiallergic, hepatoprotective, antithrombotic, antiviral and anti carcinogenic activities10. These compounds appear to play vital roles in defence against pathogens and predators and contribute to physiological functions such as seed maturation and dormancy11. Quercetin, a type of flavanol, works as anti inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer agents12.
Amaranthus species are of great importance in American people’s diets 13, 14 particularly A. cruentus and A. hybridus have a high nutritional value 15-21. The consumption of A.cruentus products is advised for patients with celiac disease and, therefore, also for diabetic persons 19.A. hybridus has been used traditionally for the treatment of liver infections and knee pain and forits laxative, diuretic, and cicatrisation properties 22; the products are used particularly for stomach aches, diarrhoea, and dysentery. A. cruentus and A. hybridus leaves are used as a vegetable23 and sauces prepared from these plants are recommended for convalescent patients24. These two species are reputed to promote health and a long shelf life.
In spite of the abundance use in the traditional and ethno medicinal systems, scientific studies to explore the pharmacological studies of these plants have not been carried out yet. The present work is carried out in order to estimate the comparative efficacy of the plant in view of phenol and flavonoid content.
Experimental
UV-Vis S1700 Pharma spectrophotometer (Schimadzu) was used for the measurement of absorbance. All solvents used were of AR-grade and were obtained from Merck, Mumbai (India).
Collection of Plant Materials
Fresh plant material was collected from Pune, Maharashtra. India. The plant material was taxonomically identified and authenticated by the Botanical survey of India, Pune. Its authentication number is BSI/ WRC/ Cert/2015/AV02.
Extraction
Air shade dried and powdered plant material (10 g) was extracted with solvents (50ml) of different polarity by keeping it for 24 hours at room temperature. Solvent was recovered under reduced pressure to obtain crude extract.
Determination of Total Phenols
The total phenol contents of aerial parts of plant material were determined using Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and sodium carbonate according to the method described by Malik and Singh 25. The concentration of phenol was determined as equivalent of phenol /g of extract by measuring absorption at 650 nm using pre-calibrated standard curve employing pyrocatechol. Experiment was carried out in triplicate and results were recorded as mean ± SEM
Determination of Total Flavonoids
The aluminum chloride method was used for the determination of the total flavonoid content of the sample extracts 26. Each extract of the plant material in methanol was mixed with Aluminium chloride and
sodium-potassium tartarate. It was kept at room temperature for 30 minutes. The absorbance of the reaction mixture was measured at 415 nm. The concentration of flavonoid in the test extracts was calculated from the calibration plot and expressed as mg quercetin equivalent /g of extract. Experiment was carried out in triplicate and results were recorded as mean ± SEM.
Results and Discussion
Quantitative determination of phenol and flavonoid of aerial extracts were performed using spectrophotometric method. The total phenol content was calculated as pyrrocatechol equivalent and total flavonoid content was calculated as quercetin equivalent. Total phenol content of A. cruentus is obtained from the regression equation of calibration curve of pyrocatechol (r2=0.934) and expressed as pyrocatechol equivalent. Total flavonoid content is obtained from the regression equation of calibration curve of quercetin (r2=0.993) and expressed as quercetin equivalent. Plant extracts with a high phenol content also enclosed high flavonoid content. The amount of phenolic and flavonoid content of A. cruentus are recorded in (Table 1 and 2, Graph 1 and 2).
Table 1: Total Phenol Content of Extracts
Total Phenol Contents mg/g ± SEM |
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1 |
Chloroform |
700.95 ± 0.04 |
2 |
Ethyl Acetate |
341.47 ± 0.05 |
3 |
Acetone |
500.95 ± 0.07 |
4 |
Ethanol |
1611.66 ±0.06 |
5 |
Water |
380.64 ± 0.04 |
Table 2: Total Flavonoid Content of Extracts
Total Flavonoid Contents mg/g ± SEM |
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1 |
Chloroform |
3.40 ± 0.04 |
2 |
Ethyl Acetate |
4.70 ± 0.05 |
3 |
Acetone |
2.80 ±0.07 |
4 |
Ethanol |
4.95 ±0.04 |
5 |
Water |
1.44 ±0.04 |
Graph 1: Total Phenol Content of Extracts
Graph 2: Total Flavonoid Content of Extracts
Conclusion
This study indicates that the ethanol extract obtained from aerial part of medicinally important plant Amaranthus cruentus contain high amount of phenol and flavonoid compounds. This preliminary study is certainly useful to do further biological study.
Acknowledgement
Authors are very much thankful to the Principal, S.P.College and Head, Department of Chemistry, S.P.College, Pune – 30, for providing necessary laboratory facilities for research work.
References
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