Screening of Local and Introduced Varieties of <i>Pogostemon heyneanus</i> Benth. (Lamiaceae), for Superior Quality Physical, Chemical and Biological Parameters

Abstract

Pogostemon heyneanus Benth. (Lamiaceae) is an aromatic, perfumery important, industrial crop widely cultivated in many Asian countries for its distinguished fragrance and other therapeutic purposes. However, commercial cultivation of P. heyneanus was hampered due to lack of high quality planting materials. Purpose of the present study is to explore superior quality P. heyneanus variety by means of physical (morphological), chemical (physico-chemical, phytochemical, essential oil content and composition) and biological [total antioxidant capacity (TAC)] parameters in order to establish commercial cultivation. Morphological, physico-chemical and phytochemical analysis were performed according to the methods described in WHO guidelines and other classical texts. The TAC was performed using Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay. Essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). Out of 26 morphological characters assessed, 5 characters were i.e. plant height, leaf margin, leaf apex, and leaf base and leaf shape polymorphic. All phytochemicals tested were identical to both varieties. However, presence of a prominent spots at Rf 0.12 (dark brown spot), 0.20 (rose colour spot), 0.45 (dark green spot) were characteristic for local variety. Significantly higher total ash content (12.32 %), oil content (0.52%), higher number of compounds in essential oil, patchouli alcohol content (57.0 %) and antioxidant capacity (108.53 ± 2.5 mg Trolox equivalent per g of extract) were reported in introduced variety. According to the results, introduced variety possesses superior quality physical, chemical and biological properties and therefore, introduced variety could be recommended for establishment of commercial cultivation.

Pharmacognostic Characterization and Antacid Activity of Aqueous Extract of Desmodium triflorum Linn and Pogostemon heyneanus Benth

“…The TFC of AE of D. triflorum whole plant and P. heyneanus leaves were 0.96±0.08 mg QE/g and 1.34±0.00 mg QE/g respectively. The TPC value of P. heyneanus leaves of the present study was lower than the reported data (0.83 ± 0.01 mg GAE/ g) 10 .…”

“…Alkaloids and saponins were only observed in RAF. 10 . Moreover, the secondary metabolites observed in D. triflorum and P. heyneanus may be responsible for various pharmacological effects [32][33] .…”

“…(Family Lamiaceae), is an aromatic herb, commonly called as 'Kollan kola' or 'Gan kollan kola' in Sinhala. Shade-dried leaves of the plant yield a commercially important oil (Patchouli oil) which is comprised of a spicy, herbaceous fragrance 10 . The plant has been used widely in different traditional medicinal practices to treat many medical ailments.…”

“…Furthermore, the leaves are used for anorexia, chronic dyspepsia, and flatulence 11 . P. heyneanus is reported to possess antibacterial 12 , antifungal 13 , cytotoxic and anticancer 14 , antioxidant 10 , insecticidal 15 and wound healing 16 activities.…”

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“…The TLC plate was developed in the saturated chromatographic chamber containing different solvent systems 14 . Antibacterial Activity: The disc diffusion method was used to test antimicrobial activity against 3 bacterial species.…”