Accelerated anti-oxidant enzymes and phytochemical potential of Taxus wallichiana (Himalayan yew) under moist temperate forest of Himalayan, Pakistan

Taxus wallichiana (Himalayan yew) antioxidant potential enhances the release of secondary metabolites and enzymes under stress and over the last few decades because of changes in land-use patterns, such species are under constant threat in the moist temperate Himalayan forests. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of change in land-use pattern on the antioxidant and phytochemical potential of T. wallichiana (Himalayan yew) in the moist temperate Himalayan Forest of Galiyat-Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan. Triplicate leaf samples of T.W were collected from high (Ayubiya, 2,970 m.a.s.l) undisturbed, disturbed mid (Baragali, Dongagali, Kuldana, Chegagali, 2,617, 2,375, 2,455, 2,804 m.a.s.l) and low (Murree, 2,000 m.a.s.l) altitudes of moist temperate forest of Galiayt-Himalayan-Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan were evaluated by % of inhibition of DPPH, total flavonoids and phenolic content, total protein and proline content, superoxidase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activity. The antioxidant activity (DPPH) response was more pronounced in low and mid altitude disturbed sites than the undisturbed site at high altitudes. Antioxidant enzymes and osmolyte content further supported the stress tolerance capacity of T. wallichiana to scavenge the ROS produced under oxidative stress conditions. It could withstand long durations of drought, salinity, frost, high temperatures, and pathogenic attacks by activating the antioxidant enzymatic.