Abstract

POLYPHENOLS FROM MARCHANTIA POLYMORPHA L. A BRYOPHYTA: A POTENTIAL SOURCE AS ANTIOXIDANTS

Remya Krishnan and K. Murugan*

ABSTRACT

Currently, different therapeutic strategies have been designed for the prevention and treatment of reactive oxygen species mediated diseases, with special emphasis on antioxidant therapy, that can delay or inhibit the oxidation of lipids or other molecules by inhibiting the initiation or propagation of oxidative chain reactions. Among the different phytochemicals, phenolic compounds are established free radical scavengers and antioxidants common among plants; they possess many biological effects, mainly attributed to their antioxidant activities in scavenging free radicals, inhibition of peroxidation and chelating transition metals. Present investigation on Marchantia polymorpha a non vascular lower plant (bryophyte) has been an attempt to screen the phytochemicals and their potential roles in antioxidant potentialities. To complete the objectives, several parameters such as solvent extracts using nonpolar to polar, qualitative anlaysis of the secondary metabolites, estimation of total phenolic content and its fractionation by RP-HPLC. Antioxidant potentialities were examined with aqueous and ethanolic extracts using DPPH*, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), Hydroxyl radical assay, FTC assay and DNA nick assay. The phytochemical study revealed the presence of phenols, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides and tannins. Significant antioxidant potentialities in terms of FRAP, DPPH, hydroxyl radical scavenging and FT assay. Phenols showed the peaks of many phenolic acids such as gallate, vanilate, chlorogenate, cinnamate, protocatechol, coumarate, ferulate, sinapic, caffeate and hydroxyl benzoate. Significant linear correlation was observed between total phenolic content and FRAP assay. Reduction in the formation of nicked DNA and increased native form of DNA. aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Marchantia polymorpha could be an important source of polyphenolic compounds with high antioxidant capacity comparable with standard ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene.

Keywords: Antioxidant potentiality, Bryophytes, DNA nick assay, Marchantia polymorpha, Polyphenols, Solvent extracts.