EFFECT OF CLIMATE ON CONCENTRATION OF FLAVONOIDS IN MACROTYLOMA UNIFLORUM, VIGNA UNGUICULATA, CINNAMOMUM ZEYLANICUM AND MENTHA PIPERITA USING SPECTROPHOTOMETER

Abstract

Climatic variability plays an important role in secreting the secondary metabolites. Currently, most pharmaceutically important secondary metabolites are isolated from wild or cultivated plants because their chemical constituents are not economically feasible. Flavonoids are being promoted commercially as dietary supplements and nutraceuticals. Flavonoids are a class of chemical compounds found in particular abundance in various plant species. The present study was carried out to evaluate the variations in the total amount of secondary metabolites during different seasons in four important valuable medicinal plants, viz. Macrotyloma uniflorum, Vigna unguiculata, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Mentha piperita using ultraviolet visible spectrophotometry. Total flavonoid content was determined by Aluminium chloride method using catechin as a standard. The concentrations of samples were calculated using standard curve. The concentration curve for flavonoids was determined and the correlation coefficient was calculated and was found to be 1.0 which indicates the good linearity between the concentration and the absorbance. Results revealed that maximum amount of secondary metabolites (flavonoids) were observed during winter, while minimum in summer season with an exception of Mu1. The concentration was almost same for Mp1 and Cz1 plant with little effect of seasonal variations and at the same place it was found to be maximum in Vu2.These plants are used in curing various diseases such as in urinary troubles. Thus present study was used as one of the parameters for standardization of medicinal plants.