COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PHARMACOGNOSTIC PARAMETERS, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTICHOLINESTERASE POTENTIAL OF BRASSICA NAPUS AND BRASSICA OLERACEA VAR. ACEPHALA

Introduction: Green leafy vegetables are known for their anti-alzheimer potential. There are many leafy vegetables, however, that have not been examined scientifically for this activity. The present study was designed to evaluate antioxidant and antiacetylcholinesterase activities of two Brassica species namely B. napus and B. oleracea var. acephala, along with the comparison of their pharmacognostic characters and phytochemical profiles. Methods: A comparative evaluation of macroscopy, microscopy, physico-chemical parameters and qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out on leaves of the selected plants as per Indian Pharmacopoeia. Further, a parallel analysis of antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of both species was done using DPPH and Ellman assay, respectively, followed by standardisation of the extracts on the basis of total phenol and total flavonoid content. Results: The hydromethanolic extract of B. oleracea var. acephala showed higher radical scavenging activity than that of B. napus. Similar results were obtained in case of total phenol content (B. oleracea var. acephala: 15.18 ± 1.82% w/w, B. napus: 12.69 ± 2.26% w/w). The hydromethanolic extract of B. napus showed higher acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity than B. oleracea var. acephala. Conclusion: The pharmacognostic profiles of the two Brassica species generated in the present study could assist in proper identification, collection and investigation of the plant material in future. Both plants have good antioxidant effect but B. napus showed significant antiacetylcholinesterase activity and it could be investigated for anti-alzheimer potential.