Phytonutrient and antinutrient components profiling of Berberis baluchistanica Ahrendt bark and leaves

Objectives: Plants are the most prevalent primary natural source of active medications. Berberis baluchistanica Ahrendt is known for the treatment of various ailments. Bioactive components, nutritional and antioxidant capacity of Berberis baluchistanica bark and leaves ethanolic extracts were evaluated in this study. Methods: Total phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidant, nutritional and anti-nutritional contents were analyzed. Analysis of bioactive components identified the presence of tannins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, coumarin, alkaloids, phenolics, saponins, steroids, anthraquinones and terpenoids. The capability of donating hydrogen was analyzed by their 50% inhibition concentration (IC50). Results: The bark possessed lower IC50 = 0.678 mg/mL and higher inhibition percentage of DPPH radical, compared to leaves IC50 = 0.785 mg/mL. The Ferric reducing antioxidant power of bark was relatively higher IC50 = 0.871 mg/mL than leaves IC50 = 0.996 mg/mL. The phenolic content of bark was 37.52 ± 1.56 mg GAE/g and that of leaves 28.32 ± 0.66 mg GAE/g, the total flavonoid contents in bark and leaves were 8.68 ± 0.93 and 11.81 ± 1.49 mg QE/g. Total proteins of the bark and leaves were 7.69 ± 0.65 mg BSAE/g and 3.63 ± 0.54 mg BSAE/g and carbohydrate contents of the bark and leaves were 4.46 ± 0.55 mg GE/g and 8.38 ± 0.71 mg GE/g respectively. The oxalate contents of bark were 0.12 ± 0.02 mg/g and leaves were 0.14 ± 0.19 mg/g and the phytate % composition of bark was 0.17 ± 0.24 % and leaves were 0.25 ± 0.08 % respectively. Conclusions: The determination of these compounds attaining a range of medicinal properties helps in maintaining the traditional use of bark and leaves extracts of Berberis baluchistanica in various biomedical fields.