Phytochemical and antioxidant evaluation of <em>Urginea indica</em> Kunth.

Abstract

<em>Urginea</em> <em>indica </em>Kunth<em>.</em> is a rare, threatened and endangered medicinal plant that belongs to Liliaceae family and commonly known as <em>Jangli Pyaz</em>. In the present study, phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract of <em>Urginea</em> <em>indica</em> bulbs was carried out. The secondary metabolites produced by this medicinal plant are reported to have therapeutic values. The secondary metabolites like phenol, flavonoid, tannin, saponin and alkaloid have been analyzed qualitatively as well as quantitatively in this species. The quantitative estimation has revealed the highest concentration of tannins (130.10 mg of GAE/g) in methanolic extract of <em>Urginea</em> <em>indica</em> bulb, whereas alkaloids (17.80 mg/g of dry plant sample), flavonoid (13.66 mg of QE/g), phenol (6.27 mg of GAE/g) and saponin (4.00 mg/g of dry plant sample) were found to be in good quantity. Considering the importance of natural products in modern phytomedicine, the antioxidant activity of <em>Urginea indica</em> extract was evaluated. The methanolic extract showed antioxidant activity by DPPH assay (IC₅₀= 51.87 µg/mL) comparable to gallic acid (IC₅₀= 39.91 µg/mL). Such an effect might contribute to explaining the traditional use of wild onion sps, <em>Urginea</em> <em>indica</em> in the treatment of various chronic diseases.