Abstract

ESTIMATION OF CHEMICAL INHIBITORS IN DORMANT SEEDS OF BUNIUM PERSICUM THROUGH BIOASAYS: A PERENIAL MEDICINAL TRANS-HIMALAYAN HERB

Shelly Banyal* and Shashi Sharma

ABSTRACT

Bunium persicum is an aromatic tuberous herb belongs to Apiaceae family. It was grows in the forests of higher elevation ranging 1850 m to 3100m in H. P. The crop is planted in mid october to mid november and matures by mid July. The aim of present research was to identify germination inhibitors occurred in the seeds of B.persicum through bioassays. So to evaluate the presence of germination inhibitors. Various extracts like aqueous (Aq), methonolic extract (MEE) andpetrolium ether extract (PEE) of kala zeera seeds were used on phytometer species like B. juncea, V. radiate and T. majus. It was found that Seed germination of phytometer species namely, Brassica juncea was inhibited by all the seed extracts tested (Aq, MEE, PEE). Petroleum ether extract was found to be most effective due to the inhibitors like cuminaldehyde and cuminylalcohol. Fresh weight of seedlings of B. juncea after 7 d of incubation following 24 h treatment did not show significant changes where as the root and shoot length affected differentially due to growth promoters like GA3 and growth inhibitors like ABA. TTC reduction ability of excised embryo axes of B. junceae was inhibited by MEE and PEE of B. pesicum seeds due to the presence of ABA or phenolic compounds to be responsible for inhibiting the dehydrogenase activity. The enhancement in root formation by aqueous extract of B. persicum dormant seeds on hypocotyl cuttings of V. radiata seedlings due to root promoting substances/hormones like auxins where as MEE was found to be toxic likely due to the presence of some calcium chelators in the extract which might have removed the Ca2+ from cell wall of the roots. Promotion of senescence of excised T. majus leaves by aqueous extracts of B. persicum seeds revealed the possibility of the presence of ABA and ABA like senescence accelerating factors in the seed extracts.

Keywords: B. juncea, V. radiate and T. majus.