Phytochemical and Trace elements Variation in different traditional medicinal plant species of Peren District, Nagaland

Abstract

The utilization of medicinal plants for unconventional health therapy is increasingly gaining significant recognition and popularity on a global scale. Screening of phytochemicals plays a major role in discovering many bioactive compounds significant to human health. Many parameters and conditions such as physiological conditions, soil condition and the type of extracts correspond to significant changes in phytochemical compositions. Thereby, the current study aim to assess phytochemical, and trace element contents in eight traditionally-used medicinal plants from Benreu village, Nagaland along with the corresponding soil profile. The studied plants also exhibited variations in the levels of trace element content, viz. Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu. Variable soil nutrient levels were also observed in soil samples for N, P and K. High values of flavonoids and phenols were observed, especially in Ageratina adenophora (820.39 ± 0.97 mg QE/100 g dw) and Erigeron karvinskianus (115.75 ± 0.36 mg GAE/100 g dw), respectively. This study, through qualitative screening and quantitative evaluations, provides essential baseline data on the phytochemical contents and essential elements present in commonly-used medicinal plants along with soil profile for the traditional treatment of various ailments.