TEMPORAL VARIABILITY IN PRIMARY METABOLITES IN SOME TUBEROUS MEDICINAL PLANTS FROM THE SITAMATA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, PRATAPGARH (RAJASTHAN)

Abstract

Primary metabolites such as total chlorophylls, carotenoids, proline, osmotic potential, total sugars, phosphorus and crude protein are important for plant growth, development and their reproductions. They generally do not have therapeutic values as such but necessary for the life of plants. Primary metabolites contain high-energy bonds and used for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Three tuberous medicinal plants, viz Arisaema tortuosum (Wall.) Schott., Chlorophytum tuberosum Baker. and Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. are selected for the present study. A. tortuosum is a tuberous herb which is mainly used in snake-bite and considered as an anthelmic, anti-nematodal, anti-inflammatory, etc. The roots of C. tuberosum and C. orchioides are considered as aphrodisiac. Experiments on primary metabolites were conducted during different months to find out the monthly variability in accumulation of these products. In A. tortuosum and C. orchioides, the maximum amount of total chlorophylls and total sugars were obtained during September. Accumulation of proline and osmotic potential contents were higher in A. tortuosum during September and August, respectively; whereas in C. orchioides during August. C. tuberosum exhibits less variability in all products during different months.