Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3830

Full Length Research Paper

Variations in basil antioxidant contents in relation to deficit irrigation

Muhammad Mumtaz Khan1*, Muhammad Asif Hanif2 and Alfie Susan Abraham2
1Water Research Centre, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. 2Department of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Marine Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 01 February 2011
  •  Published: 23 March 2012

Abstract

Secondary compounds, essential oils, and flavoring components of leaf tissues are often enhanced in response to environmental stress exposure. The objective of this study was to determine antioxidant contents of Omani basil under various water regimes including normal and stress conditions. The water stress increased antioxidant compounds in basil leaf tissues, and maximum amount of total phenolics and total flavonoids were observed at an irrigation intensity of 25%. The DDPH scavenging activity and reducing power of basil leaves extract was also higher at 25% water regime. Further decrease in water availability up to 12% caused reduction in antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activities of basil extracts.

 

Key words: Basil, deficit irrigation, antioxidants, phenolics, flavonoids.