Differential distribution of polyphenols in plants using multivariate techniques

Plants form a substantive portion of human diet that contains a plethora of structurally diverse polyphenols. These polyphenols extend both nutritional as well as disease preventive benefits to the consumer. Many ancient medicinal systems like Ayurveda reiterate the consumption of particular polyphenol rich plant in specific medical condition. Therefore, it is necessary to create a database of the contents of different polyphenols in various plants. This study compiles a bibliographic review of polyphenol distribution in different plants along with their statistical analysis like Pearson's correlation matrix, cluster analysis, principal component and factor analysis, and non-metric multidimensional scaling. It was observed that caffeic acid and quercetin were the most abundant polyphenols in the plants. A significant positive correlation of umbelliferone was found with kaempferol and epicatechin. Species having close proximities on the basis of polyphenols were Parthenium hysterophorus, Rumex dentatus, Achyranthus aspera, Chenopodium ambrosoides, Cannabis sativa, Rhododendron arboreum, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Debregeasia longifolia and C. album. Factor analysis showed four underlying factors for polyphenols. Factor-1 had maximum loadings on epicatechin, umbelliferone and kaempferol. Gallic acid and catechin had maximum loadings on factor-2. Factor-3 had maximum loadings on chlorogenic acid and quercetin, and factor-4 had maximum loading on coumaric acid.