Abstract

AIR POLLUTION TOLERANCE INDEX AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF PLANT LEAVES COLLECTED NEAR RAILWAY JUNCTION, KARRUPUR, SALEM, TAMIL NADU, INDIA.

M. Krishnaveni*, Sreerenjini V. M. and J. Santhoshkumar

Abstract

Trees and plants keep the place green and it is essential to protect and preserve plants for various reasons. Hence, the present study was carried out to know about the tolerance, sensitivity of the plants located in the experimental site. Method: Aqueous leaf extract was used for the whole study. Biochemical components, secondary metabolites, antioxidant activities were assessed by following standard procedures. Fresh leaves were collected from the study area daily until the completion of the study. The collected leaves were weighed with dust and without dust i.e after cleaning. The difference gives an idea about the pollution load in the particular place. Results: The ascorbic acid content was high with Tecoma stans, all the other plants showed moderate level of ascorbic acid. The total chlorophyll content was higher with Psidium guajava 45.47±0.00mg/g, Tecoma stans 43.30±0.02mg/g, Tamarindus indica 41.14±0.41mg/g. pH observed in the study area was found to be acidic. The relative water content was high with Citrus limon 95.60±2.90%, Lawsonia inermis 93.18±1.72%. The aminoacid content was higher with Manilkara zapota 2.90±0.12 and moderate with rest of the plants studied. The carbohydrate content was high with Azadirachta indica 8.60±4.50. Air pollution tolerance index of the plants studied were found to be sensitive in the selected experimental site. The phenolic and flavonoid content of the selected plants were significantly high except Tamarindus indica. But, plants such as Citrus limon, Tamarindus indica, Manilkara zapota showed less flavonoid content compared to other plants. The antioxidant activity was high with Citrus limon showing 19.1±1.09mg/g, The nitric oxide scavenging activity was high with Manilkara zapota 22.60±3.35mg/g, The reducing power activity was high with Azadirachta indica 17.8±0.35mg/g, While, the metal chelating activity was high with all the plants studied. Higher carotenoid content with Psidium guajava 16.27±0.02mg/g, likewise, protein content of Lawsonia inermis was 21.7±8.19mg/g. Conclusion: All the plants were of sensitive in nature but contain phenolics and flavonoids, antioxidant activities in higher amount which finds application in therapeutics.

Keywords: APTI, Antioxidant activities, Biochemical parameters, Carotenoids, Secondary metabolites.