India is the largest producer in the world of black pepper and it is the center of origin for Piper. The present study gives a comparative account of the chemical composition of the Piper nigrum and its wild putative parent the P. trichostachyon. Microextractions were performed and the quantification of six phenolic compounds (namely epicatechin, gallic acid, catechol, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and catechin), piperine from leaves, petioles, and the fruits of both the species, were accomplished using the RP-UFLC system. The polyphenols (phenolic, flavonoid) and their antioxidant activities were also estimated. Among the six phenolic compounds studied, only three were detected and quantified. The polyphenol content correlating to the antioxidant activities was higher in the P. trichostachyon, whereas the piperine content was 108 times greater in the P. nigrum fruits. The Piper trichostachyon comparatively showed a higher content of polyphenols. The microextractions reduced the solvent consumption, the quantity of the plant material, and the amount of time used for the extraction. The first report on the TPC, TF, and the antioxidant activity of the P. trichostachyon has been described, and it also forms a scientific basis for its use in traditional medicine. The petioles of both species are good sources of phenolic compounds. A quantitative chemical analysis is a useful index in the identification and comparison of the species.

Diversity needs to be “conserved through use.” Owing to the global need, the present study includes two underutilized berries, Carissa carandus and Eleagnus conferta, to explore their potential as supplementary food by evaluating their antioxidant activity and approximate chemical composition. Berries of E. conferta are a richer source of carotene, ascorbic acid, protein, and magnesium, whereas berries of C. carandus are rich in sugars, lipids, iron, and magnesium. The antioxidant properties of the berries and a comparative account on their performance using DPPH and FRAP assay was studied. Both assays revealed high activity in the peel extract of berries of C. carandus. The LC-MS/MS profile of C. carandus reveals the presence of eleven different polyphenolic compounds while E. conferta had only four of these compounds.

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of extraction method with respect to time of exposure on total phenolic content and antioxidant potential of methanolic extracts (95%) from Achyranthes aspera leaves, stem and roots. Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method and antioxidant potential was tested using DPPH radical scavenging and FRAP assays. Plant populations aged 60 and 120days were considered during the study. Overall, highest TPC was evident in mature plants (120days) compared to younger (60days). Similarly, leaves accumulated higher phenolics followed by roots and stem. Results showed the MAE technique to be efficient over USE and CSE methods. Same was evident in both the antioxidant assays tested. A similar trend was observed in both antioxidant assays as that of TPC, indicating phenolics to be the major contributor in the antioxidant potential of the plant. In conclusion it can be said that the yield of phenolic compounds depends on parameters viz. age of plant, part used for extraction, method of extraction and time required for the same