Abstract
Phytochemicals are broadly acknowledged for their health-promoting effects owing to the fact of their capacity to counteract free radicals (e.g., superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical, hydroperoxyl radical, singlet oxygen, hypochlorite, and nitric oxide) and shield against oxidative stress induced by environmental factors. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between altitude, morphology, soil parameters, in vitro antioxidant potential and phytochemical composition of Phlomis cashmeriana collected from four different locations of Kashmir Himalaya characterized by diverse habitats and elevations. Various factors, such as extraction method, solvent polarity, and habitat conditions, can impact the quantity and efficacy of phytochemicals in plants. The aim of current study was to analyze phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of P. cashmeriana, an important medicinal plant found in the Kashmir Himalaya region. The antioxidant activity was accessed using several assays and the plant populations were selected based on their diverse habitat features and altitudes. HR-LCMS was conducted for both below-ground and above-ground parts. Some important compounds such as, catechin, vinainsenoside, acutilobin, and kaempferol were reported for the first time from P. cashmeriana. Results showed that methanol was the most efficient solvent for extracting phytochemicals. During the current study, it was also found that the below-ground parts exhibited superior antioxidant activity compared to the above-ground parts. Notably, Site IV demonstrated the highest antioxidant potential; a positive correlation between altitude and antioxidant activity was also found. In conclusion, present research identified specific elite populations having highest antioxidant potential and are well-suited for large-scale cultivation of P. cashmeriana.
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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
We express our gratitude to the Department of Botany at the University of Kashmir for granting us access to the essential research facilities. Additionally, we extend our thanks to our colleagues for their valuable support in both the field and laboratory work.
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This work received funding from MANF2018–19-JAM-97230 in favor of HJ.
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Roof Ul Qadir, Hanan Javid and Irshad Ahmad Bhat perceived the research idea. Irshad A Nawchoo and Shaban Gulzar supervised the research work. Bilal Ahmad Wani, Roof Ul Qadir, and Junaid Ahmad Magray collected field and herbarium data. Hanan Javid, Junaid Ahmad Magray conducted the data analysis; validation and visualization were carried out by Roof Ul Qadir, Irshad Ahmad Bhat and Bilal Ahmad Wani. The original draft was written by Roof Ul Qadir and Hanan Javid with a detailed review, editing and inputs from Irshad Ahmad Nawchoo and Shabana Gulzar. All the authors reviewed and approved the final draft for submission.
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Qadir, R.U., Bhat, I.A., Javid, H. et al. Exploring morphological variability, in vitro antioxidant potential, and HR-LCMS phytochemical profiling of Phlomis cashmeriana Royle ex Benth. across different habitats of Kashmir Himalaya. Environ Monit Assess 196, 241 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-024-12338-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-024-12338-2