Abstract

BIOCHEMICAL ESTIMATION OF SELECTIVE PRIMARY METABOLITES FROM TWO MEDICINALLY IMPORTANT PLANTS OF CUCURBITACEAE

Sangeeta Samria and *Renu Sarin

ABSTRACT

An in vitro protocol was developed for the production of some selective important primary metabolites viz. carbohydrate, proteins, lipids, phenols from two medicinally important plants of family Cucurbitaceae viz. Luffa cylindrica Linn. and Citrullus colocynthis Linn. L.cylindrica (turi) is an important medicinal plant and has been used in various disorders and as a health tonic. C. colocynthis (Tumba or Indrayan) is also an important medicional plant used in various disorders . C.colocynthis is very hot in nature and is a potent purgative and was used to initiate abortion in ancient times. The present investigation quantify that L. cylindrica and C. colocynthis contain many primary metabolites like carbohydrates, proteins, phenols, lipids, etc. in relatively high amounts. The plant parts (leaves and stem) and in vitro callus cultures of L. cylindrica and C. colocynthis varied in composition of primary metabolites studied.

Keywords: Luffa cylindrica, Citrullus colocynthis, callus cultures, Primary metabolites.