Effect of nitrogen fertilization and harvesting period on phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of cymbopogon citratus
Cymbopogon citratus is grown due to its economic benefits with high antioxidant activities. However, the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and antioxidant activities of plants are often dependent on several factors such as the presence of nutrients and harvesting period. In this study, the effec...
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Format: | Thesis |
Language: | English English English |
Published: |
2021
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Online Access: | http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/8367/1/24p%20WAN%20NUR%20AIN%20SYUKRIAH%20WAN%20MARZUKI%20RASHIDI.pdf http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/8367/2/WAN%20NUR%20AIN%20SYUKRIAH%20WAN%20MARZUKI%20RASHIDI%20COPYRIGHT%20DECLARATION.pdf http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/8367/3/WAN%20NUR%20AIN%20SYUKRIAH%20WAN%20MARZUKI%20RASHIDI%20WATERMARK.pdf |
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Summary: | Cymbopogon citratus is grown due to its economic benefits with high antioxidant activities. However, the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and antioxidant activities of plants are often dependent on several factors such as the presence of nutrients and harvesting period. In this study, the effects of different nitrogen concentrations (0, 100, 200 kg/ha) and harvesting periods of 150, 180, 210, 240 and 270 days after transplant (DAT) on the yield, phytochemical content and antioxidant activities of C. citratus essential oil and ethanolic extract were evaluated. The experimental design used was a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation whereby ethanolic extract was obtained using the maceration technique. The evaluated phytochemical content comprises the total terpenoid content (TTC), total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), while the antioxidant activities were assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Correlations between the factors and responses were examined using Pearson’s correlation and it was found that the highest yield of essential oil and citral content was from 150 DAT (200 kg/ha N), while highest ethanolic extract yield was obtained at 150 DAT (0 kg/ha N). Major compounds detected in essential oil were myrcene, neral, geranial, geranyl acetate, 5-epi-7-epi-α-eudesmol, selina-6-en-4-ol, hinesol, α-cadinol, juniper champor and farnesal (2E, 6E). Both extracts exhibited the highest DPPH scavenging and FRAP activities at 150 DAT and 210 DAT, respectively. As for ethanolic extract, TPC and TFC were the highest at 150 DAT, while TTC was the highest at two harvesting periods of 150 DAT and 180 DAT. Almost all dependent variables showed a strong correlation with harvesting period. Overall, 150 DAT was proven to be better in maintaining high yield, phytochemical content and DPPH activity while only FRAP of extracts showed the highest activity at 210 DAT. These findings showed that biological activity and phytochemical content in C. citratus vary in response to harvesting periods and nitrogen concentrations. |
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