Genetic diversity of total phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant activity in pearl millet genotypes grown in semi-arid region of Rajasthan

Abstract

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is an important food staples in semi-arid tropics of Asia and Africa. Millet is cereal grains that have prospective to be used as substitute to wheat flour for celiac patients. It is considered as the good source of many important and essential fatty acids. The present study was an effort to explore secondary metabolite composition of six millet varieties MPMH-17, HHB-67, RHB-177, RHB-173, GHB-558, and GHB-38 with special reference to Total Phenolic, Total Flavonoid and Antioxidant activity. These activities were analyzed using UV-VIS spectrophotometer. Total phenolics content were ranged from 152-202 mg GAE g-1 seed. Highest phenolics content were found in MPMH-17 variety (202.81 mg GAE g-1) while lowest phenolics was recorded in RHB-177 (152.54 mg GAE g-1). Total flavonoids content were ranged from 82-147 mg QE g-1 seed. MPMH-17 variety (147.20 mg QE g-1) was superior in total flavonoid content and RHB-177 (82.56 mg QE g-1) was found lowest flavonoid containing genotype. DPPH radical scavenging IC50 value of pearl millet genotypes were ranged from 8-12 mg ml-1. HHB-67 variety recorded lowest IC50 value (8.16 mg ml-1) while GHB-538 (12.25 mg ml-1) contains highest IC50 value among six genotypes. Study result reveals that pearl millet contains adequate amount of secondary metabolites.