PJB-2023-298
Exploring Gilgit Baltistan's Medicinal Bounty: A Polyphenolic Content Analysis of High-Altitude Herbs in the Karakoram-Himalayan Range"
Mr, Ashiq Hussain
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants have been used for centuries to treat various ailments, and they continue to inspire novel therapeutic compounds. In this study, the potential health benefits of fifteen wild medicinal herbs were explored which are traditionally used by the inhabitants of Gilgit, Pakistan. The data was collected on the bases of herbal usage through interviews and used established methodologies to determine the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity using DPPH and FRAP assays. Two solvents, acetone, and water, were used to evaluate the herbs' hydrophilic and hydrophobic contributions. The results showed that Rumex nepalensis Spreng and Equisetum arvense L had the highest levels of phenolic and flavonoid contents (280.59 ± 1.56 µg GAE/g and 193.14 ± 1.36 µg QE/g) in the acetone extract. Equisetum arvense L also showed significant levels of phenolic and flavonoid contents (262.87±0.643 µg GAE/g and 142.62 ± 1.34 QE/g) in the water extract. Furthermore, Equisetum arvense L showed noteworthy potential to scavenge DPPH at 84.44o ± 0.42% in the acetone extract, while Artemisia absinthium exhibited the highest DPPH scavenging activity at 87.47 ± 0.060% in the water extract. Cichorium intybus L had the highest reducing ability for ferric ions in water extract (142.06 ± 0.830 µg GAE/g), while Plantago lanceolata had the best-reducing ability for ferric ions in acetone extract (181.76 ± 1.93 µg GAE/g). Overall, the findings demonstrate that the wild medicinal herbs used by local communities in Gilgit are a valuable source of health-promoting phytochemicals and exhibit significant potential for treating chronic diseases linked with free radicals. Further research is necessary to fully explore the benefits associated with these plants and to identify new varieties that have the potential for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
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