Study of polyphenols at vegetative and reproductive stages of eight common plant species of asteraceae found in Quetta

Eight common plant species of asteraceae were collected at two growth stages viz.,vegetative and reproductive from four different localities of quetta during two consecutive years. the plant material (mainly leaf) was shade dried and ground into a fine powder. they were then analyzed for few anti-nutritional/ antioxidant polyphenols viz.,flavonoids,phenolics and tannins. results showed that cumulatively there was an increased level of 29.25% of polyphenols in reproductive as compare to their respective foliar stage. results further exhibited that generally all plant species have a higher level at reproductive (except the phenolics of echinops griffithiamus boiss and hertia intermedia boiss). highest significant concentrations of polyphenols were quantified from serriphedium quettense and least for hertia intermedia. whereas pattern of concentration of these anti-nutritional/ insect repellant/ biochemical deterrent attributes for remaining six plant species were carthamus oxicantha > centaurea iberica > echinops griffithiamus > conyza bonarensis > acroptilon repens > achillea welhemsii. it can be concluded that at flowering stage,the plant body is under natural stress and at that time level of tested polyphenols raises as compared to their level at a foliar stage when the plant is developing and acquiring its vegetative peak. therefore,based on the highest amount of polyphenols,among eight plant species serriphedium quettense could be used as a good natural source of herbicide,fungicide,insecticide,and bactericide in agriculture and pharmaceutical industries. © 2017 chemical society of pakistan. all rights reserved.