Antioxidant activity of fourteen Eulophia species traditionally known as amarkand

Abstract

Objective: Amarkand is a group of medicinal plants, of which tubers are regularly consumed by the tribal people in India as food and medicine. It has a strong background of regional ethnopharmacological and food uses. Thus it can be effectively utilized as a source of natural antioxidants. The present study, of fourteen Eulophia species which are predominantly considered as “Amarkand”, were focused for their antioxidant potential and polyphenolic content which facilitates the contribution of the traditional knowledge of plants from India. Methods: Radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power and anti-lipid peroxidation assay were used to evaluate the antioxidant potential. In addition, total phenols, flavonoid and proanthocynidins were estimated. Results: Results showed that all the studied amarkand species have promising antioxidant potential. Eulophia epidendrea (J. Koenig ex. Retz.) C. E. C. Fisch. (EE) and Eulophia mannii (Rchb. f.) Hook. f. (EM) had highest free radical scavenging potential among all. Eulophia epidendrea have highest ferric reducing potential which may be due to high flavonoid and proanthocyanidin content present. Conclusion: The data clearly demonstrated that EE and EM may serve as a good natural antioxidant source against oxidative stress and related diseases.