Since chilies contain high quantities of bioactive potential compounds, they are expected to possess large number of pharmacological values like antioxi-dants, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, diuretics activi-ties and is being employed for the treatment of different ailments in the indigenous system of medicine. The current study aimed at comparative evaluation of antioxidant properties, phytochemicals and RAPD assay from extracts of 6 different types of chilli found in the states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh of North East India. The plant extracts were screened for phyto-chemicals, antioxidant analysis and RAPD profile. Phytochemical analysis shows abundant presence of alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, saponins etc. The antioxidants activities of all the aqueous extracts were evaluated using the DPPH method. The antioxidant activity (% oxidation inhibition) ranged from as high as 86.56% in Bhut Jolokia (Capsicum assamicum) extracts to as low as 18.77% in Badami Jolokia (Capsicum annum) extract. Chilli samples studied possess potential health benefits by inhibiting many oxidation reactions caused by free radicals. Genetic diversity in 6 chilli genotypes was analyzed by RAPD markers of the fourteen random primers among which 11 were polymorphic. The phylogenetic tree showed common ancestry and the divergence among the chilli species. Based on the current study findings, it may be concluded the RAPD technology can be a useful tool in explaining the genetic diversity among chilli genotypes.
Genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis of Citrus (L) from north-east India as revealed by meiosis, and molecular analysis of internal transcribed spacer region of rDNA
