Abstract

A FT-IR SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY OF PHYTOCONSTITUENTS OF ASPARAGUS RACEMOSUS WILLD ROOT TUBER

Anurag Mishra*, Vijay Kumar Mishra, Divya Dwivedi, K. N. Dwivedi

Abstract

Two samples of root tuber of Asparagus racemosus Willd. were prepared in two different forms; powder and liquid (juice). The Fourier Transform Infrared (FT–IR) technique was employed to understand the composition, chemical structure and discrimination of biomolecules in Asparagus racemosus Willd. root tuber samples. The prepared samples were scanned in mid infrared region (4000–400cm–1) for IR spectroscopic studies. IR spectra thus obtained were analyzed to discriminating and identifying various functional groups present in both the forms of root tuber. The appearance of bending/ stretching modes of various functional groups viz. alkyl, methyl, phenol, alcohols, ethers and carboxylic acids revealed the presence of several biomolecules, amino acids, tannins, flavonoids, amides, lignin, cellulose, hemicelluloses and polysaccharides comprising these groups. These polysaccharides are well known to have antioxidant, antitumor and immunity modulator actions. These polysaccharides also resist the damages due to harmful radiations. FT–IR spectroscopy has been proved an effective and sensitive assay for the detection of biomolecules contained in two forms of root tuber samples. FT–IR spectra of Asparagus racemosus Willd. root tuber prepared in two forms powder and juice uncovered the superiority of powder over the juice due to presence of a couple of additional peaks of polysaccharides in spectrum of powder sample. This reveals that the IR active phytoconstituents of Asparagus are more concentrated in powder form than the juice. However, it is not fully supported by classic Ayurveda.

Keywords: Phytoconstituents; Asparagus racemosus; Dry Root; Fresh Root; FT–IR Analysis.