Pankaj Bharali
Rajiv Gandhi University, India
Title: Biochemical constituents of four ethnobotanically important legume plant species from Arunachal Pradesh, India
Biography
Biography: Pankaj Bharali
Abstract
Mankind is dependent on herbalism or botanical medicines since time immemorial. Well recognized as a biodiversity hot spot, Arunachal Pradesh, the lofty mountainous state of India, is blessed with rich variety of floral and faunal heritage greatly influenced by its diverse geography, topography and varied climate pattern. Among more than 500 medicinally significant plants, Albizia lucidior(Steud.)Nielsen, Acacia pennata (L.)Willd, Albizia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr. and Gymnocladus assamicus Kanj. ex P.C. Kanjilalare locally used as soap, shampoo, to treat stomach disorders and as lice repellent by the Adi people of the state. In view of the very important ethnobotanical properties, this study was carried out with the objectives of the detection and quantification of preliminary phytochemical constituents, quantitative study of the secondary metabolites, quantitative study of both micro- and macronutrients and evaluation of antioxidant activities of these four plant species. Preliminary phytochemical investigation indicated the presence of considerable amount of saponin in all the four species validating their use as a good source of soap or detergent. Among these four species studied, the seed pod of G. assamicus was found to containing highest amount of saponins. All of the four plant extracts showed significant antioxidant activity in DPPH antioxidant assay.