Abstract
Lepidium latifolium Linn. (perennial pepperweed) is one of the preferred phytofoods among cold arid region of Ladakh, India and its leaves contribute significantly to people's diet. This study was conducted to determine its nutritive value and antioxidant activity. Plant samples from three different locations were selected in the present study. Results showed that this plant is an excellent source of glucosinolates, notably sinigrin that is present in very high amount (∼70–90%). Its value ranged from 149 to 199 µg per g fresh weight. Fatty acid composition analysis showed that its leaves were abundant in unsaturated fatty acids, specifically linolenic acid (18∶3) whose percentage is about 50%. Higher glucose and crude protein along with higher nitrogen to sulfur ratio, supplements the nutritive value of this plant. Based on total phenol, flavanoids, free radical scavenging activity and DNA protective activity showed that this ecotype of perennial pepperweed contains high antioxidant properties. The percentage inhibition for O2 − scavenging activity ranged from 41.3% to 83.9%. Higher content of phenols (26.89 to 50.51 mg gallic acid equivalents per g dry weight) and flavanoids (38.66 to 76.00 mg quercetin equivalents per g dry weight) in leaves could be responsible for the free radical scavenging activity of this plant. Depending upon the location of the plants, variations were observed in different activities. Based on the systematic evaluation in this study, preparations of Lepidium latifolium from Ladakh can be promoted as substitute to dietary requirements.
Highlights
Living organisms have to relate themselves to the environment for their sustenance
Our study showed that the ecotype of Lepidium latifolium present in Ladakh Himalayas does contain nutritionally significant levels of fatty acids and glucosinolates
The presence of high amount of sinigrin is of particular significance as its degradation product amounts to allyl isothiocyanates, which have known health alleviating properties
Summary
Living organisms have to relate themselves to the environment for their sustenance. Environmental factors and metabolic processes in the body cause molecules or atoms to form free radicals that have increased chemical reactivity. Today’s oxidative environment presents a range of free radicals including superoxide, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide and peroxynitrite, for living organism to deal with. Antioxidants have gained importance due to their ability to neutralize free radicals or their effects. They may act as free radical scavengers, reducing agents, chelating agents for transition metals, quenchers of singlet oxygen molecules and/or activators of antioxidative defense enzyme systems to suppress the radical damages in biological systems
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