QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF ACTIVE ALKALOID IN W1THANIA SOMNIFERA THROUGH HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF QUALITY PLANTING STOCK

摘要

Withania somnífera commonly known as Ashwagandha belongs to family Solanaceae and is an important medicinal shrub widely distributed in India. It is widely used in Ayurvedic and Homeopathic systems of medicines. The medicinal value of this plant is due to the presence of active ingredient viz- withanolide-A. The content of this active ingredient in plant varies with the geographical distribution as well as in the plant parts. Therefore, the germplasm of the species was evaluated through a simple, quick and accurate HPLC method using C-18 ODS-2 column. The plant material with the highest withanolide- a concentration was used as the source of explants for further propagation for the production of quality germplasm.