Phytochemical investigation and antioxidant efficacy of wild, underutilized berries of economically important Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album L.)

In the present study, we evaluated the phytoconstituents and antioxidant efficacy of wild, underutilized berries of vulnerable Indian sandalwood (Santalum album L.). The proximate composition and mineral content was determined using methods as described by AOAC. Total phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and antioxidant properties were evaluated from the methanolic and aqueous extracts. In addition, GC-MS, and FTIR analysis of crude extracts were done to understand chemical profiling in S. album berries. The matured berries showed a considerable amount of moisture (82.39 ± 0.32%) and ash content (30.6 ± 0.17%). Similarly, it has a good source of total carbohydrates (8.08 ± 0.04 g/100 g), crude protein (8.66 ± 0.16 g/100 g), crude fat content (1.79 ± 0.01 mg/100 g) and energy value (67.87 ± 2.27 kcal/100 g). Methanolic extract of berries showed higher concentration of phenolics (4.97 ± 0.07 mg GAE/100 g) and alkaloids (7.16 ± 0.09 mg CoE/100 g) whereas, the aqueous extract showed higher concentration of flavonoids (10.98 ± 0.14 mg RE/100 g), tannins (58.26 ± 0.55 mg TAE/100 g). The ABTS (96.16 ± 0.47 mg TE/100 g), DPPH (83.95 ± 1.03% RSA), and FRAP (78.27 ± 0.22 mg Fe(II)/100 g) antioxidant activity was found to be higher in methanolic extract, whereas the phosphomolybdenum activity (2.01 ± 0.02 mg AAE/100 g) was higher in aqueous extracts. The wild and underutilized berries were found to be the rich source of phytoconstituents and antioxidants. Therefore, the berries of S. album can be further explored for their possible use as a natural food and in pharmaceutical industries. [Display omitted]