Phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities of fern, Asplenium ceterach L. in different altitudes

Abstract

Phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities of fern (Asplenium ceterach L.) distributed in different altitudes (22 stations) were compared and the relationships between altitude and plant chemical contents were studied. The highest 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was found in 22^nd station (IC₅₀ = 47.91 μg/ml) and the highest total phenolic content was found in 9^th station (110.62 μgGAE/ml) whereas the maximum total flavonoid content was found in 20^th station (232.67 μgCE/ml). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis indicates that the maximum pterosin b (0.235 μg/ml), catechin (2.756 μg/ml) and quercetin (0.207 μg/ml) values were found in 21^th station whereas the maximum chlorogenic acid (17.718 μg/ml) was obtained in 9^th and caffeic acid (6,598 μg/ml) in 13^th stations. It was observed that altitude is not potent alone, but it can be a factor in the occurrence of other ecological factors like soil properties, water, humidity, light and temperature.