Phytochemical and GC-MS analysis of Rhododendron arboreum flowers

Quantitative phytochemical profiling and qualitative analysis of bioactive compounds using GC-MS was done for Rhododendron arboreum flowers. The ethanolic extract of flowers was used for phytochemical and GC-MS analysis. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. High amount of total phenol (65.50 ± 1.12 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (33.25 ± 0.89 mg RE/g) and low amount of alkaloids (0.03 ± 0.002 mg/g) and saponins (0.11 ± 0.009 mg/g) were found. Large number of different volatile compounds were detected by GC-MS analysis. High amount of phenolic compounds reveals that flowers may have very good antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Thus flowers of R arboreum are a good source of nutraceuticals, functional foods as well as therapeutic agents.