Chemo-profiling, Antioxidant Potential and Ionomic Analysis of Cichorium intybus L.

Background: Cichorium intybus commonly called as chicory or coffee weed was traditionally used for the treatment of various ailments associated with liver, kidney and heart. The aim of the present study was phytochemical screening, in-vitro evaluation of antioxidant potential, element analysis of wild and cultivated chicory and GC-MS analysis of methanolic leaf extract of wild chicory grown in Kashmir Himalaya. Method: To achieve this goal, the qualitative and quantitative analysis was done to determine the antioxidant potential. Element analysis was done using AAS and metabolite fingerprinting was done using GC-MS to ascertain the presence of active phytoconstituents in chicory leaves. Results: The qualitative screening of leaf extracts from wild and cultivated chicory indicates the presence of important bioactive constituents. The leaf extract of wild chicory constituted the higher amount of total phenol and flavonoid contents and also showed strong radical scavenging activities of DPPH, SOD and hydrogen peroxide radical as indicated by lower values of IC50 compared to cultivated chicory. Furthermore, both extracts of wild chicory showed the highest total antioxidant potential for the reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ when compared with cultivated chicory. The results from the elemental analysis shows that leaf extract of wild chicory exhibits higher concentration of elements as compared to cultivated one, thus can be used as a potential bio-fortified crop. The GC-MS analysis determines the presence of 78 different compounds in the methanolic leaf extract of wild chicory. The major phytochemical constituents were phytol (7.96%) and stigmat-5-en-3-ol (6.45%). Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggested the therapeutic potential of chicory leaves; particularly wild chicory proves to be a potent source of natural antioxidant against free radical associated damages. Metabolite profiling study revealed important metabolites having potent pharmacological actions.