Phytochemicals and antioxidants in leaf extracts of Ginkgo biloba with reference to location, seasonal variation and solvent system

Medicinal plants are known potential source of many phenolic compounds and antioxidants. Among these, polyphenols in particular, have been recognized for antioxidant activity and many other health benefits.1 Phenolic and flavonoids, as natural antioxidants and free radical scavengers, have involved substantial interest due to their importance in food and pharmacological industry.2 Factors, such as geographic location, age of the plant, season, associated microflora, nutritional status, and environmental stress are known to influence the secondary metabolite profile of a particular plant species. Seasonal variation in trees, for example from dormant to active phase, brings progressive changes in traits like production of phytochemicals.3 Besides, optimization of methods with respect to solvent system is important for determination or extraction of the phytochemicals from any plant species.

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