Comparative phytochemical study of vegetable drugs from sp. Withania somnifera L. (Dunal) micropropagated in vitro grown in greenhouse and open field

Abstract

Introduction: Withania somnifera L. (Dunal), commonly known as Ashwagandha, is an important medicinal plant that has been used in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine for over 3,000 years. In view of its varied therapeutic potential, it has also been the subject of considerable modern scientific attention. It was successfully multiplicated by biotechnological methods in vitro in Botany Garden of Academy of Science of the Republic of Moldova and acclimatized in climate conditions of Moldova.

The objective of the study is to determine the total content of major chemical constituents, the alkaloids, in different vegetable drugs of W. Somnifera micropropagated in vitro grown in greenhouse and open field.

Materials and methods: Roots, aerial parts, leaves of W. somnifera plants obtained by micropropagation in vitro grown in greenhouse and open field. Qualitative identification of alkaloids were provided by series of special chemical reactions (Bouchardat reagent, Dragendorff reagent, tannic acid, phosphomolybdic acid, phosphotungstic acid, picric acid, picrolonic acid). Quantitative study was effectuated by isolation with chloroform in separated funnel. After drying of chloroform extract with alkaloids in acids medium were determinated the total content of alkaloids by titrimetric method with solution of Sodium hydroxide.

Discussion results: The qualitative study results demonstrated that alkaloids are present in all vegetable drugs, but more effective in root (Withaniae radices). The results of quantitative study denote that the total contain of alkaloids in vegetable drugs W. folia and W. herba obtained from greenhouse consist 1.154% in leaves and 1.016% in aerial parts. In vegetable drugs obtained from the open field plants the results was less, respectively W. folia – 0.851%, W. herba – 0.784%. Comparison, the highest content of total alkaloids there is in W. radices (1.415%) grown in open field than in decreasing W. folia (1.154%; 0.851%) and W. herba (respectively – 1.016%; 0.784%).

Conclusion: The phytochemical study of three vegetable drugs obtained from sp. W. somnifera, grown in the climate conditions of Moldova may be the good source of tropane alkaloids, especially W. radices.