Impact of altitudinal variation on phytochemical properties and mycorrhizal diversity in Reinwardtia indica Dumort

Abstract

ix newlineABSTRACT newlineReinwardtia indica commonly known as pyoli, basanti from family Linaceae has high ethnomedicinal value. The present study was carried out to analyse the impact of altitudinal variation on phytochemical properties, mycorrhizal diversity and physico-chemical properties of soil. The phytochemical analysis of the leaves and stem extract of R indica plant have confirmed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, proteins and carbohydrates in methanol and chloroform extract. The maximum amount of phenol (142.63±1.88 mg/g GAE), flavonoid (51.59±2.20 mg/g RUT), tannins (146.11±1.73mg/g GAE), protein (12.95±0.35mg/g GAE) and carbohydrate content (485±1.52 mg/g GLU) was observed in methanol extract of plant at high altitude site (Chail 2000m). Significant variations were observed in phytochemical analysis across the altitude. GC-MS analysis of the plant extract identified nine bioactive compounds which possess biological properties like antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor, anticancerous etc. The HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of rutin and gallic acid in the plant extract. The rutin content have shown variation along the altitude with maximum amount reported from higher altitude. The mycorrhizal association showed decreasing trend with increase in altitude in terms of number of mycorrhizal spores, % root colonisation and mycorrhizal spore diversity. The physico-chemical properties of soil also varied along the altitude which included variation in soil available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic carbon content with observation of high amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic carbon in low altitude soil (Datyar 800m). Thus the high amount of phytochemicals and less association with mycorrhiza at high altitude may be due to variations in environmental factors and physico-chemical properties along the altitude. newlineKeywords: Reinwardtia indica, altitude, mycorrhizal association, phytochemicals, physico-chemical properties, GC-MS analysis, HPLC. newline