Assessment of Genetic and Phytochemical Variations of Leptadenia reticulata from Different Geographical Regions of India

Abstract

Background: newlineLeptadenia reticulata (Retz.) Wight and Arn, a highly valued and extensively traded newlinemedicinal plant, plays a crucial role in Ayurvedic practices, primarily for its revitalizing, newlinerejuvenating, and lactogenic properties. However, because of the established medicinal newlineproperties and increase in demand across the world, the plants are being overexploited newlineand are rapidly decreasing in number. It is therefore important to carry out population newlinegenetic studies on the plant to understand the existing variations in their gene pool and newlinetheir correlation with respective phytoconstituents so that appropriate conservation newlinestrategies can be planned. Depleting numbers, and inadvertent mistakes in identification newlinecoupled with rampant substitution and adulteration has necessitated the development of newlinebetter tools for correct identification and differentiation of this medicinally important newlineplant from common adulterants/substitutes. newlineObjectives: (i) To study the DNA profile of Leptadenia reticulata, from different newlinegeographical regions of India using ISSR/RAPD primers. (ii) To investigate the newlinephytoconstituent variation in Leptadenia reticulata using the fingerprinting method. newline(iii) To develop the molecular markers for identification and differentiation newlineof Leptadenia reticulata from its adulterants and substituents. newline