HPLC AND ESI-MS ANALYSIS OF VANILLIN ANALOGUE 2-HYDROXY-4-METHOXY BENZALDEHYDE IN SWALLOW ROOT - THE INFLUENCE OF HABITAT HETEROGENEITY ON ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL

Decalepis hamiltonii Wight & Arn., is a plant species that is endemic to southern parts of India. The aim of this study is to explore the influence of habitat heterogeneity on total phenolics, flavonoids, flavor compound 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzaldehyde (2H4MB) and antioxidant potential of tubers. The flavor metabolite 2H4MB was quantified by HPLC using isocratic solvent system (methanol: acetonitrile : water : acetic acid 47 : 10 : 42 : 1) that indicates obvious difference in 2H4MB content of tubers with a maximum of 96.4 +/- 2.6 and 92.6 +/- 1.2 mg 100 g(-1) dry weight basis (DW) in samples from B.R. Hills and Mysore area of Karnataka, followed by samples from Tirumalai Hills and Kurnool from Andhra Pradesh (89.02 +/- 0.9 mg 100 g(-1) DW), Tamil Nadu (81.6 +/- 2.4 mg 100 g(-1) DW) and Kerala (80.18 +/- 1.1 mg 100 g(-1) DW) of tubers. There was variation in total phenolics, total flavonoids and 2H4MB content of root samples collected from different habitats. Also significant variation in free radical scavenging potential of methanol root extracts was noticed, which is directly proportional to the phenolics, and flavonoids content. Overall, there was 10-16% difference in content of 2H4MB in D. hamiltonii tubers that were collected from different natural habitats, and this habitat heterogeneity has to be considered vital, while using such tubers for edible purposes and food formulations.