Analysis of polyphenols and anti-oxidant activity of Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa L.) from Himachal Pradesh-A North-Western State of India

Boerhavia diffusa L. (family Nyctaginaceae) is also known as Punarnava in Indian medicine and has been used as rasayana herb in Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times. Plant has anti-aging, rejuvenating, cell-strengthening, mind-enhancing and preventative properties. The present study aims to investigate the different plant parts of the species B. diffusa for phytochemicals and antioxidants characterization for the first time from Bilaspur (31.33 oN 76.75 oE), Himachal Pradesh of North-Western India. The methanol: water extracts (leaf, stem and root) of B. diffusa were tested for in vitro antioxidant activity by various assays such as DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS [2, 2’-azino-bis (3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)], FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power assay) and RP-HPLC-PDA (Reverse Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Photo Diode Array Detector), which showed that B. diffusa root had the highest antioxidant activity i.e. DPPH (93.11±0.152g %), ABTS (89.70±0.207g %) and FRAP (88.67±0.251g %). This suggests that plant-derived polyphenols are good sources of natural antioxidants. Further, in the present study, three polyphenols, such as rutin, syringic acid, and epicatechin, were also determined through RP-HPLC-PDA method and found to be maximum in root extract. The results indicated that the methanolic extract of B. diffusa could be a potential herbal medicine against free radicals.