Journal of Environmental and Applied Bioresearch www.scienceresearchlibrary.com Journal of Environmental and Applied Bioresearch Published online July 16, 2015 (http://www.scienceresearchlibrary.com) ISSN: 2319 8745 Vol. 03, No. 03, pp. 155 - 158 Research Article Open Access ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM L.) CROPS GROWN IN NORTH WESTERN INDIAN MOUNTAINS Rajesh Kumar Sharma * , Rosy Kundra, Rashmi Raghuvanshi G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Himachal Unit, Mohal- Kullu (H.P.) - 175 126, India Received: June 10, 2015 / Accepted : June 15, 2015 ⓒ Science Research Library Abstract Allium sativum L. (Garlic), most commonly used as a favorite additive in Indian food possesses antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antiplatelet and antihyperlipidemic properties. Very little scientific information is available on the antioxidant properties of garlic crops produced locally in Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India. The present study investigates the total phenolics and flavonoids contents in methanol extracts of garlic bulbs and their antioxidant activities using in-vitro assays such as 1, 1- diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, 2, 2’-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-disulphonic acid (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP).. The results showed that garlic bulbs had significant amounts of total phenolics and flavonoids, and also possess potential antioxidant activities. The test parameters varied significantly with altitudes (p<0.05). Pearson’s relationship study revealed that soil properties had significant influence on the antioxidant activities of A. sativum. This study concludes that local agricultural practices and micro-climatic conditions of Kullu Valley potentially affect antioxidant potential of A. sativum crops. This study also suggests that locally produced garlic crops can be consumed by mountain peoples for their health benefits. Keywords: Allium sativum; Altitudes; Antioxidant activities; Soil properties; Kullu Valley *Corresponding authors: rajeshbhu78@gmail.com Introduction Farming systems have strong influence on soil properties, such as organic matter, pH and major nutrients such as Na, K and Ca. The uptake and accumulation of trace metals such as Cd, Zn, Cu, etc. in vegetable crops also varied with seasons and agriculture fields (Sharma et al., 2007). The climate changes influence the antioxidant properties of Labisia pumila Blume was reported by Ibrahim and Jaafar (2011). Garlic (Allium sativum L.) has been widely used as both a folk medicine and as a spice for thousands of years. Tocopherols, flavonoids, carotenoids and amino acids have been recognized as potent natural antioxidants and the antioxidative activity of spices has also been reported (Kim et al. 1997). Organosulfur compounds of garlic, promotes lipid lowering, antithrombotic, anti-blood coagulation, anti- hypertension, anticancer, antioxidant and antibacterial effects (Rahman et al. 2012). Lanzotti (2006) demonstrated that total phenolics content in red onion (A. cepa L. var. ascalonicum Backer) was higher than garlic (A. sativum). Environment factors such as altitude, temperature and physiological properties of the soil influenced antioxidant activities of medicinally and economically important plants (Sharma et al., 2012; 2013). Very little scientific information is available on antioxidant properties of garlic, one of the main cash crops produced locally in Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India. Therefore, the present study investigated the total phenolics and flavonoids contents in methanol extracts of garlic bulbs and their antioxidant activities using in-vitro assays such as 1, 1- diphenyl-