In-vitro antioxidant activity of therapeutically important plant Thymus serpyllum L. grown at different altitudes viz. foothill areas, lower Himalayan and higher Himalayan regions were evaluated against various radicals such as DPPH, ABTS and reducing power assays. The antioxidant constituents like total phenols, flavonoids and total tannins were also evaluated in the present study. The results revealed that the alcoholic, as well as the aqueous extracts of the plant, showed significant antioxidant potential against all the radicals. Extracts obtained from different altitude cultivation showed variation in IC50 values. The alcoholic and aqueous extracts prepared from the plants grown at foothill areas (Haldwani) showed the highest DPPH (IC50: ALC-0.566 mg/ml; AQ- 0.778 mg/ml), ABTS (IC50: ALC- 0.484 mg/ml; AQ- 0.533 mg/ml) and reducing power (EC50: ALC- 0.29 mg/ml; 0.42 mg/ml) activities, followed by high altitude cultivated plants, (Auli), with moderate antioxidant activity. The extracts from mid-altitude cultivation (Pithoragarh) exhibited the least antioxidant potential. The results showed that the amount of total phenolics and flavonoids were significantly correlated to the antioxidant activity. Higher the value of phenolics (TS3: 12.63mg CE/g> TS1: 11.51 mg CE/g> TS2: 10.70 mg CE/g) and flavonoids (TS3: 9.30 mg QE/g> TS1: 9.07mg QE/g> TS2: 6.59mg QE/g) in the extracts, greater was the antioxidant activity. Therefore, T. serpyllum grown in foothill areas was more beneficial in preparing various herbal formulations.
According to India's National Biofuel Policy, only non-edible oilseed crops can be used for the biofuel feedstock. In this context, Camelina sativa is one such plant that fulfils all the criteria defined by the Biofuel policies of India. So, the present investigation was aimed to examine C. sativa seed oil capabilities as a biodiesel feedstock. Oil was deacidified via adsorption method applying Silica Gel as an adsorbent. The highest efficacy was obtained when 1:9 (Silica gel: oil) ratio was applied and the acid value was reduced from 6.45 to 2.78 mg KOH/g. Furthermore, oil was transesterified using methanol in the ratio of 1:6 (oil: methanol molar ratio) and 0.8 % (w/w of oil) of KOH as a catalyst at 70 ?C. The produced biodiesel was analyzed in terms of fuel-specific parameters and results were compared with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. The results were very much satisfactory and under the limits specified by the ASTM standards. The results revealed that oil to biodiesel conversion was 92.28 % with an acid value of 0.37 mg KOH/g. The measured Iodine value was 152 gI2/100g indicated the high unsaturation. Still, Camelina biodiesel showed oxidation stability of 6 h., which was a decent value compared to this much unsaturation. The sulphur content was also higher (24 ppm) than the specified limit (15 ppm). Besides, the fuel-specific parameters like sulphur content and iodine value were under the ASTM limits.
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