Phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of different anatomical parts of Corchorus olitorius and C. capsularis during different phenological stages

Different parts of Corchorus olitorius and C. capsularis possess different antioxidant compounds. This study investigated the phytochemical components and antioxidant capacities of ultrasound-assisted extraction of different plant parts of both species using spectrophotometry at various phenological stages. Results also indicate that leaves, stems and roots of C. olitorius at various growth stages showed higher phytochemical components and antioxidant potential compared to C. capsularis. The phytochemical components from roots to leaves in C. olitorius including total polyphenol 0.97–11.11 mg GAE/g DW, total flavonoid 0.99–7.78 mg QE/g DW and total tannin 4.02–26.89 TA E/g DW, whereas C. capsularis total polyphenol 1.04–7.93 mg GAE/g DW, total flavonoid 0.77–5.5.92 mg QE/g DW and total tannin content 3.17–22.73 TA E/g DW. C. olitorius produced overall 22.23%, 13.61%, 12.24% higher total polyphenol, total flavonoid and total tannin, respectively compare to C. capsularis. Different parts extract also significantly affected antioxidant capacities including DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP activity with values of 22.03–79.46% inhibition, 10.84–104.10 μmol TE/g DW, and 10.84–104.10 μmol Fe(2+/)g DW respectively for C. olitorius, while C. capsularis demonstrated 14.03–70.97% of DPPH inhibition, 9.16–95.60 μmol TE/g DW of ABTS and 5.31–71.82 μmol Fe(2+/)g DW of FRAP activity. Moreover, leaves of the flowering stage, young stems and aged roots of both species displayed a higher content of phytochemical and antioxidant activities than other growth stages. A positive correlation between the phytochemical and antioxidant potential indicated that phenolic constituents solely affected antioxidant activity. Thus, this study established that the plant's parts and phenological growth stages significantly influence the concentration of phytoconstituents and antioxidant activities, and determine the harvesting stages of the different organs of C. olitorius and C. capsularis for considerable medicinal importance as folk and industry.