ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY AND RELATED PHYTOCHEMICALS ANALYSIS OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF TWO WILD EDIBLE FRUITS FROM NORTH WESTERN INDIAN HIMALAYA

Abstract

Fruits of Berberis asiatica and Pyracantha crenulata are traditionally consumed by local people of north western Himalayan states of India for the treatment of oxidative stress induced ailments. Methanolic extract from mature fruits were evaluated for their total phenolics, related antioxidant compounds and activities. Result showed that Berberis asiatica possesses the higher level of total polyphenols, catechins and ascorbic acid then Pyracantha crenulata while Pyracantha crenulata possesses the higher level of β-carotene and lycopene then Berberis asiatica. Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities at four different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/ml) were evaluated. Berberis asiatica showed higher antioxidant potential as compare to the Pyracantha crenulata. Results of the finding provides evidence that the crude methanolic extract of the studied wild fruits are valuable source of natural antioxidant, which can be applied in both healthy medicine and food industry