PJB-2023-462
A Comparison of Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Potential of Edible Ficus auriculata and Non-Edible Ficus racemosa
Zahid Ahmad Khan
Abstract
Ethnobotanically important plants possess a wide array of biologically active phytochemicals. Among these, phenolics, and flavonoids have shown notable pharmacological properties. The present study was conducted to compare total phenolic contents and total flavonoid contents of two fig species namely Ficus racemose and Ficus auriculata. Ficus racemose is a non-edible fig whereas Ficus auriculata is a commonly consumed plants by locals. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging potential of the selected Ficus species was also estimated using spectrophotometric method. Fresh fruit samples of selected Ficus species were collected from their native habitat in District Abbottabad. Half of the samples were shade dried and extracted with 70% methanol. Total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant potential of the methanolic extracts were quantified using folin ciocalteau reagent, aluminium chloride (AlCl3) assay and 2,2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay respectively. Results revealed that the phenolics were detected at all the selected wavelengths. 370 nm proved an optimal wavelength for quantification of total phenolics in Ficus species. Dried fruit of Ficus racemosa was recorded for the highest TPC. The same fruits showed the highest total flavonoid content at 517 nm. On the contrary, percent antioxidant activity was found highest in the fresh fruits of Ficus racemosa. The study gave a deeper insight into the phytochemicals and antioxidant potential of two Ficus species which can further be exploited to get maximum ethnobotanical benefits.
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