Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties, total phenolic contents and phytochemical constituents of Urtica hyperborea Jacq. ex Wedd. growing in the high altitude cold desert region of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The antioxidant activity of the whole plant was investigated with four different methods such as 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), 2,2’-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical (ABTS), Reducing power assay and Ferric reducing antioxidant property (FRAP). All the assays carried out found that the plant has antioxidant potential. The total phenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content of the extract was determined as 42 ± 7.54 mg GAE/ g dry wt. and 4.0 ± 2.31mg QE/g dry wt. respectively. The study has validated the medicinal potential of U. hyperborea and revealed that the consumption of the plant could be beneficial as it possesses antioxidant activity.

Keywords: Antioxidant activity, phytochemicals, polyphenols, Urtica hyperborea