HR-LCMS-QTOF-assisted phytochemical profiling and an assessment of habitat and altitude influence on phytochemical, morphological and antioxidant potential in Aquilegia fragrans Benth

The process of adapting to changing environmental conditions plays a pivotal role in driving plant diversification. Elevational gradients provide a unique chance to explore adaptation to various climatic conditions. Aquilegia fragrans Benth. recognized as an important medicinal plant is distributed across various habitats with varying altitudes in the Kashmir Himalayan region. Nevertheless, a comprehensive examination of morphology and antioxidant phytochemicals concerning various environmental factors such as altitude and habitat conditions is currently lacking. The goal of this study is to understand the morphological and phytochemical variations, as well as antioxidant activity, in A. fragrans across diverse altitudes and habitats within the study area. The current investigation unveiled significant (p < 0.05) distinctions among populations of A. fragrans based on morphological, phytochemical, and antioxidant activity parameters. Across ten sampling sites phenolics (174 ± 2 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (109.14 ± 0.29 mg QE/g), BGFW (below ground fresh weight; 168.35 ± 4.3 g) and BGDW (below ground dry weight; 55.02 ± 1.42 g) were recorded maximum in Razdhan Pass followed by Mohand Marg population. Furthermore, the present investigation consistently validates the impact of altitude as a significant variable on the accumulation of phenolics and flavonoids in A. fragrans, and its antioxidant activity. Therefore, this research will be useful in identifying elite populations of target species and can aid in our knowledge of how plants modify the synthesis of secondary metabolites to adapt to harsh climatic conditions at higher altitudes. Moreover, HR-LCMS-QTOF was employed to identify bioactive compounds in the methanolic rhizome extract.