Qualitative and Quantitative Determination of Secondary metabolites and Antioxidant Potential of Eruca sativa

Eruca sativa known as Taramira (family Brassicaceae), is a minor oil crop and medicinal plant in various parts of Middle East and IndoPak subcontinent. Since long it has been used in traditional medicines as remedies for different diseases [1]. Therefore phytochemical composition and respective biological activities are important to understand the therapeutic potential of medicinal herbs. Among other, phenolic compounds are the most widely explored phytochemicals for therapeutic potential in different medicinal plants. Most of these studies conclude that pharmacological activities of any medicinal plant are due to the presence of secondary metabolites. Secondary metabolites usually consist of the phenolic compounds, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, carbohydrates, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, etc. Most phenolic compounds such as flavonoids, glycosides, triterpenoids, flavonons, carbohydrates and anthraquinones are commonly present in most of the medicinal plants. All of these secondary metabolites and particularly phenolic compounds have been reported as scavengers of free radicals and also have been considered as good therapeutic candidates for free radical related pathologies [2]. Nowadays, there is an increasing focus for the search of anti-oxidants (non-synthetic) from medicinal plant such as carotenoids, ascorbic acid (vitamins), phenolic and flavonoids. There are also several studies related to the analysis of phenolic composition in other members of the Brassicaceae family [3-6]. So far, whole plant extracts and purified Glucosinolates (GSLs) Brassica oleracea L. has been studied for their antioxidant potential by evaluating its effects on lipid peroxidation (deoxyribose assay), the Bleomycin assay and a Radical cation 2,2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) [7]. It has been reported that E. sativa seed extracts are potent antioxidants, exhibit diuretic effects and provide renal protection. Previous phytochemical studies of E. sativa showed that leaves and seeds contain glucosinolates. Three new quercetins have been isolated and identified from E. sativa leaves [8]. However, there is not sufficient information in the form of scientific analysis about detailed phytochemical composition of E. sativa and their respective bioactivities [1]. Anti-oxidative activity is a measure of capability of compound to scavenge free Hydroxyl groups and Oxygen species. It is very important property of medicinal plants because there are number of reports which mention that in biological systems, free radicals are causative agents for different disease such as cancer. Therefore, antioxidant properties are an index of antioxidant potential against reactive oxygen species (free radicals) [2].