Phytochemical studies on the roots of Hemidesmusindicus (L.) R. Br. ecotypes

Abstract

Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br. (Syn: Periploca indica L.) belongs to the family, Asclepiadaceae. It is also known as "Indian Sarsaparilla" and is widely recognized in traditional systems of medicine. Ecotypes of H. indicus are showing the significant morphological variation and collected from different type of soil conditions. Phytochemical studies like preliminary phytochemical analysis of root extracts of ecotypes have not shown variation. HPLC chromatograms of root methanol extracts in ecotypes have showed the variation in number of peaks and results were compared with standard 2-hydroxy 4-methoxy-benzaldehyde. All the seven ecotypes showed the presence of ma jor compound, 2 -hydroxy-4-methoxy benza ldehyde a nd its concentration is more in Type-6 (7.80 µg/mg) and less in Type-3 (2.02 µg/mg). This study identified the ecotypes with high secondary metabolite which can help herbal drug manufacturers in identification to correct raw material.