Retention of drug yielding potential of micropropagated Hedychium coronarium

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to analyze the chemical constituents present in the essential oil obtained from both conventional and micropropagated Hedychium coronarium rhizomes using gas chromatography - mass spectroscopy analysis. A total number of 7 compounds were identified from the rhizomes of conventional plants, whereas 3 compounds in case of the micropropagated plants. The major compounds identified in micropropagated rhizome oil were eucalyptol (47.97%), β-pinene (39.23%) and linalool (12.45%). The antioxidant activity of H. coronarium essential oil exhibited a moderate result using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free-radical scavenging assay. In spite of its high medicinal value, this endangered wild species is going to extinct for which micropropagation is necessary for retention of its drug yield potential present in its essential medicinal oils. All above analysis showed that the micropropagated H. coronarium could be used for a large scale commercial propagation bearing its medicinal constituents.