UPLC-DAD quantification of chemical constituents of roots and their antioxidant activity.

, native to Himalayan region, is well known for its curative effects in traditional medicinal system. An ultra performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection method for the quantification of constituents of root part of has been developed along with antioxidant activity evaluation. A simple and sensitive quantification method developed for seven compounds however only four compounds; -coumaric acid (4), rutin (7), tiliroside (14) and kaempferol (16) were quantified as others were in lesser amount. Syringic acid and quercetin were found in trace amount whereas chlorogenic acid was absent in the ethanol extract of roots of . Total polyphenolic and flavonoid contents were determined to be 21.75 mg of gallic acid equivalent and 8.57 mg of quercetin equivalent per gram of dry plant material, respectively. Antioxidant activity of extract was assessed using three assays; 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The IC values; 35.75 μg/ml and 30.35 μg/ml by DPPH and ABTS assays for ethanolic extract showed excellent free radical scavenging potential of its root part. The ferric reducing ability (FRAP) value, 26.67 mg of ascorbic acid per gram also indicated its higher antioxidant potential.