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. 2011 Aug 19:11:65.
doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-11-65.

High catechin concentrations detected in Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) by high performance liquid chromatography analysis

Nadia Alam  1 , Monzur Hossain, Md Ibrahim Khalil, Mohammed Moniruzzaman, Siti Amrah Sulaiman, Siew Hua Gan
Affiliations

High catechin concentrations detected in Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) by high performance liquid chromatography analysis

Nadia Alam et al. BMC Complement Altern Med. .

Abstract

Background: Withania somnifera is an important medicinal plant traditionally used in the treatment of many diseases. The present study was carried out to characterize the phenolic acids, flavonoids and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging activities in methanolic extracts of W. somnifera fruits, roots and leaves (WSFEt, WSREt and WSLEt).

Methods: WSFEt, WSREt and WSLEt was prepared by using 80% aqueous methanol and total polyphenols, flavonoids as well as DPPH radical scavenging activities were determined by spectrophotometric methods and phenolic acid profiles were determined by HPLC methods.

Results: High concentrations of both phenolics and flavonoids were detected in all parts of the plant with the former ranging between 17.80 ± 5.80 and 32.58 ± 3.16 mg/g (dry weight) and the latter ranging between 15.49 ± 1.02 and 31.58 ± 5.07 mg/g. All of the three different plant parts showed strong DPPH radical scavenging activities (59.16 ± 1.20 to 91.84 ± 0.38%). Eight polyphenols (gallic, syringic, benzoic, p-coumaric and vanillic acids as well as catechin, kaempferol and naringenin) have been identified by HPLC in parts of the plant as well. Among all the polyphenols, catechin was detected in the highest concentration (13.01 ± 8.93 to 30.61 ± 11.41 mg/g).

Conclusion: The results indicating that W. somnifera is a plant with strong therapeutic properties thus further supporting its traditional claims. All major parts of W. somnifera such as the roots, fruits and leaves provide potential benefits for human health because of its high content of polyphenols and antioxidant activities with the leaves containing the highest amounts of polyphenols specially catechin with strong antioxidant properties.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
HPLC chromatogram of W. somnifera roots. (1) catechin and (2) benzoic acid.
Figure 2
Figure 2
HPLC chromatogram of W. somnifera fruits. (1) catechin (2) naringenin and (3) kaempferol.
Figure 3
Figure 3
HPLC chromatogram of W. somnifera leaves. (1) catechin, (2) gallic acid, (3) syringic acid, (4) vanillic acid, (5) p-coumaric acid and (6) benzoic acid.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Comparison of total values of phenolic and flavonoid compounds (mg/g) of W. somnifera roots, fruits and leaves obtained by spectrophotometric and HPLC method (p < 0.05).
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