Comparative Study on Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of an Epiphyte, Viscum album L. (White Berry Mistletoe), Derived from Different Host Trees

Abstract

The study aimed at evaluating the antioxidant profile of a medicinal epiphyte Viscum album L. harvested from three tree species, namely, Populus ciliata L, Ulmus villosa L., and Juglans regia L. The crude extracts were obtained with ethanol, methanol, and water and were evaluated for the total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activities using total reducing power (TRP), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 1, 1-diphenyl 1-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide radical scavenging (SOR), and hydroxyl radical scavenging (^•OH) assays. Our results showed that crude leaf extracts of plants harvested from the host Juglans regia L. exhibited higher yields of phytochemical constituents and noticeable antioxidative properties. The ethanolic leaf samples reported the highest phenols (13.46 ± 0.87 mg/g), flavonoids (2.38 ± 0.04 mg/g), FRAP (500.63 ± 12.58 μM Fe II/g DW), and DPPH (87.26% ± 0.30 mg/mL). Moreover, the highest values for TRP (4.24 ± 0.26 μg/mL), SOR (89.79% ± 0.73 mg/mL), and OH (67.16% ± 1.15 mg/mL) were obtained from aqueous leaf extracts. Further, Pearson correlation was used for quantifying the relationship between TPC, TFC, and antioxidant (FRAP, DPPH, SOR, OH) activities in Viscum album L. compared to their hosts. It was revealed that the epiphyte showed variation with the type of host plant and extracting solvent.

Keywords: antioxidant; epiphyte phytochemical; extraction; plant extract.

Figure 1

Viscum album L. harvested from three host trees (A) Populus ciliata L., (B) Ulmus villosa L., (C) Juglans regia L. Heavy infestation of epiphyte on the upper crown of the host plant is indicated by arrows. (D) Stem, (E) Leaves, (F) Berries.

Figure 2

Variation in total phenolic contents (A), total flavonoid content (B), total reducing power (C), ferric reducing power antioxidant and (D) assays in Viscum album L. influenced by different hosts. Values are the mean ± SD of three replications. Sets of bars with different letters are significantly different (p < 0.05). MTE (methanolic extract), ETE (ethanolic extract), and AQE = (aqueous extract).

Figure 3

% DPPH scavenging potential of Viscum album L. stem (A), leaf (B), and berry (C) extracts at different concentrations (20 µL, 30 µL, 40 µL, and 50 µL) influenced by different hosts. Values are the mean ± SD of three replications. Bars with different letters are significantly different (p < 0.05). PC = Populus ciliata L., UV = Ulmus villosa L., JR = Juglans regia L.; SE= stem extract, LE = leaf extract, BE = berry extract.

Figure 4

% SOR scavenging potential of Viscum album L. stem (A), leaf (B), and berry (C) extracts at different concentrations (20 µL, 30 µL, 40 µL, and 50 µL) influenced by different hosts. Values are the mean ± SD of three replications. Bars with different letters are significantly different (p < 0.05). PC = Populus ciliata L., UV = Ulmus villosa L., JR = Juglans regia L.; SE = stem extract, LE = leaf extract, BE = berry extract.

Figure 5

% OH scavenging activity of Viscum album L. stem (A), leaf (B), and berry (C) extracts at different concentrations (20 µL, 30 µL, 40 µL, and 50 µL) influenced by different hosts. Values are the mean ± SD of three replications. Bars with different letters are significantly different (p < 0.05). PC = Populus ciliata L., UV = Ulmus villosa L., JR = Juglans regia L.; SE = stem extract, LE = leaf extract, BE = berry extract.

Figure 6

Correlation heatmap analysis among total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of stem, leaf, and berry extracts of Viscum album L. collected from different hosts. Populus ciliata L. (PC): 1─PC stem; 2─PC leaf; 3─PC berry; Ulmus villosa L. (UV): 4─UV stem; 5─UV leaf; 6─UV berry; Juglans regia L. (JR): 7─JR stem; 8─JR leaf and 9─JR berry.

Figure 7

Pearson correlation coefficient for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and activities of antioxidants total reducing power (TRP), ferric reducing antioxidant power(FRAP), 1, 1-diphenyl 1-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide radical scavenging (SOR), and hydroxyl radical scavenging (OH-) of various parts of Viscum album L. collected from different hosts.