Screening of Amarkand Species with Respect to Their Polyphenolic Content and Free Radical Quenching Potential

Amarkand tubers are routinely consumed by Indian tribes as food and medicine. Some species from genus Eulophia (Orchidaceae) and Dioscorea bulbifera L. (Dioscoraceae) are referred as Amarkand. Their different local names and location specific availability lead to ambiguity in identification and incorrect selection of a particular species as medicine. Present study is focused to find out their polyphenolic content and free radical scavenging potential. It was found that tubers and bulbils of D. bulbifera (DBT and DBT) can scavenge 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. Also, they exhibited a better ability to chelate metal ions. E. leghapanensis (EL) could effectively scavenge nitric oxide radical than other species. EL and E. ochreata (EO) showed higher anti-lipid peroxidation potential. Similarly EO demonstrated highest ferric reducing capacity (6.62±0.290 μM Fe (II)/g). Among eight Amarkand species, DBB and tubers of EO, EL, DBT contain high amount of phenols, flavonoids, proanthocynidins and demonstrated considerable antioxidant potential for their use against diseases.