Metabolite profiling, antioxidant potential and RP-UFLC determination of bioactive molecules from eight Swertia species

The present study aimed to investigate phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential and quantification of anticancer, hepatoprotective and antidiabetic compounds using RP-UFLC from eight Swertia species. Extracts were obtained and evaluated for total phenolics; flavonoids as well as antioxidant properties were assessed by DPPH and FRAP assays. Identification and quantification of active components from different extracts obtained were performed by using RP-UFLC. Total phenolic content among the Swertia species ranged from 08.84 to 32.77 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g whereas total flavonoid content varied within range of 03.66–27.01 mg rutin equivalent (RE)/g plant material in different solvent extracts. DPPH activity, ranging from 20.67 to 91.85 percent radical scavenging activity (% RSA), whereas FRAP activity ranging from 00.98 to 04.34 mg Ascorbic acid Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (AEAC)/g plant material in different solvent extracts. The varied range of content of active components was observed (Swertiamarin 3.18–130.53 mg/g, Betulinic Acid 0.63–1.93 mg/g, Oleanolic acid 1.09–21.80 mg/g and ursolic acid 0.39–10.57 mg/g). Hierarchical multivariate cluster analysis study divided eight species into seven clusters with two major clades with similarity ranging from 57.83 to 97.22% on the basis of TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity while dendrogram obtained from UFLC analyses had one major clade at 35.31% with six species separated from remaining two forming other clade with 35.31%–97.22% similarity. Depending on higher phytochemical content study represent S. chirayita to be the superior candidate among the all other species, contributing to higher DPPH and FRAP antioxidant activities with higher swertiamarin content.