Functional constituents (micronutrients and phytochemicals) and antioxidant activity of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban leaves

• Centella asiatica is medicinal and vegetable importance underutilized plant.
• Plant genotypes have significant influence on recovery of functional constituents.
• Micronutrients and antioxidants contribute in antiradical activity of plant extracts.
• Correlation for antioxidants in Centella extracts hold its health refreshing claims.

The Centella asiatica is a surface growing plant and has great potential in herbal industry. Its leaves are also used as vegetable or flavoring agents. The present study investigated the genetic influence on phytochemistry of C. asiatica using 11 collections from Andaman Islands. The study showed significant (p < 0.05) variations in dietary micronutrients, potential antioxidants, and antioxidant activity. The analysis of leaves (100 g) showed wide range for micronutrients like Mn (25.2–90.1 mg), Cu (2.9–46.8 mg), Na (23.6–697.7 mg), Zn (16.6–122.9 mg), Ca (1354.9–2870.8 mg), Fe (112.4–247.2 mg), and Mg (398.0–757.4 mg). Phytochemical analysis of 100 g fresh leaves of C. asiatica genotypes showed wide range for phenolics (120.0–318.0 mg), flavonoids (111.8–260.6 mg), tannin (206.6–856.6 mg), anthocyanin (176.2–315.2 mg), carotenoids (12.5–72.6 mg) and ascorbic acid (36.6–96.6 mg). Carotenoids and phenolics compounds were validated in composite leaf samples of tested genotypes with RP-HPLC analysis. Antioxidant activity of methanol extracts ranged from 72.0 to 85.7% which showed significantly positive correlation with anthocyanin (r = 0.75; p < 0.05), total phenol (r = 0.53; p < 0.05), flavonoids (r = 0.56, p < 0.05), and tannin (r = 0.42; p < 0.05). The study revealed the genotype affect on functional compounds and identified genotypes for use herbal or breeding purpose.