Variations in the L-DOPA Content, Phytochemical Constituents andAntioxidant Activity of Different Germlines of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC.

In this study a ‘wonder plant’ Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC., which is commercially important medicinal plant of the Fabaceae family known for its treatment in Central Nervous System disorders like Dementia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, etc. have been selected. Different germplasms have been collected to analyze the phytochemical variations between them and quantify the L-DOPA in root, stem, leaves and seeds of all the five germlines using HPLC. Along with the biochemical assays, antioxidant activity by DPPH, phosphomolybdneum method, the metal chelating and reductive potential activity of all the germplasms were studied. All parts of the plant have shown the presence of L-DOPA but, seeds have the highest quantity followed by the roots, stem and leaves. Arka Shubra seeds showed high L-DOPA content (51.9 mg/g) while the other germplasms showed L-DOPA ranging from 43-45 mg/g. Highest content of carbohydrates (258.8 mg/g) and phenolics (157.0 mg/g) was seen in the seeds of Arka Aswini. While the seeds and leaves of Arka Charaka showed high protein (332.2 mg/g) and flavonoid (10.2 mg/g) content, respectively. High proline (1.74 mg/g) was observed in the seeds of Arka Shubra. Antioxidant studies revealed that Arka Charaka and Arka Daksha to be having high reductive power and free radical scavenging activity by phosphomolybdate method while high metal chelating activity was observed in Arka Aswini (88.7%) and high antioxidant activity by DPPH method was seen in Arka Shubra (86.5%).