Comparative study of phytochemicals, antioxidant activities and chromatographic profiling of different parts of Lycium ruthenicum Murr of Trans-Himalayan region

Lycium ruthenicum is one of the high values yet lesser explored medicinal plant of trans-Himalayan region of India. The local traditional medicine system (Amchi system) has immense interest in powerful biological activity of its fruits (black Goji berries). Lycium ruthenicum used for treatment of many health problems like abnormal menstruation, vision problem, heart disease, enhance liver and kidney function, as well as nutraceutical supplements. Purpose: In this study, we aim to have investigated, the comparative analysis of phenolics content, flavonoid, tannin, anthocyanin content, antioxidant activity and chromatographic profiling (GC–MS,LC-MS) of different parts (leaf, stem and berry) extracts of Lycium ruthenicum. Total Phenolic Content, flavonoids, tannins and Anthocyanin content were spectrophotometrically measured and the antioxidant activity was investigate using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) and reducing power assay method. Lycium potential extracts were characterized by GC–MS and LC-MS. The total phenolic content, flavonoid content and tannin content of leaf and stem soxhlet extract have shown highest values (91.5 ± 3.06 mg of (GAE)/ g DFE, 484.4 ± 4.1 mg of (QR)/ g DFE, 339.0 ± 1.61(CT)/g of DFE: 167.8 ± 2.7 mg of (GAE)/ g DFE, 310.9 ± 3.93 mg of (QR)/ g DFE, 237.0 ± 4.6(CT)/g of DFE) followed by antioxidant assays, DPPH (IC50: 0.182 mg/ml and IC50: 1.152 mg/ml) and ABTS (IC50: 0.046 mg/ml and IC50: 0.015 mg/ml) and FRAP potential (147.7 ± 4.27 mg of TE/ g DFE and100.8 ± 2.9 mg of TE/ g DFE), which significantly correlates to its high content of polyphenolics and flavonoids via a GC–MS analysis. Whereas in case of fruit, ultrasonic and maceration both extracts showed the similar results. GC–MS results of leaf and stem extracts shown the presence of 69 compounds comprising steroids, terpenes, fatty acids, esters, phenolic, aldehyde, furan, and pyridines compounds. Quantitative analysis showed that soxhlet extracts of leaf and stem have higher contents of total phenolics and flavonoids as well as antioxidant activity as compared to other extraction methods. The present results support the Lycium ruthenicum leaf and stem extracts might be good source in healthy food supplements, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.