Research Projects

Astavarga containing a set of eight plant species belong to three different families; four species belong to the family Orchidaceae viz., Jeevak (Crepidium acuminatum (D. Don) Szlach.), Rishbhak (Malaxis muscifera (Lindl.) Kuntze, Riddhi (Habenaria intermedia D. Don), Vriddhi (H. edgeworthii Hook.f. ex Collett) one species belong to the family Zingiberaceae viz., Kakoli (Roscoea purpurea Smith) and three species belong to the family Liliaceae viz., Kshirakakoli (Lilium polyphyllum D. Don), Meda (Polygonatum verticillatum (Linn.) Allioni) and Mahameda (P. cirrhifolium (Wall.) Royle f. ex Collett) and this synchronize the exceptional preparation of plants is known for their “Vitality strengthening or rejuvenators” and used for the preparation of Chaywanprash. We recently focused on family Orchidaceae namely Jeevak, Rishbhak, Riddhi Vriddhi which has been categorized as critically endangered species (CAMP status), critically rare (IUCN status) and listed under Appendix II of CITES, Indian Red Data Book. In vitro propagation methods will be used for their mass propagation and conservation using seeds, leaves, root and shoot explants on MS medium ( with and without auxins and cytokinins) in full and half strength. The identification and quantification of various secondary metabolites will be done by using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques both qualitative and quantitative (HPLC, HPTLC, RP-HPLC, Prep- HPLC, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, NMR etc.) The analysis will be done for the extraction of secondary metabolites and are used for technology transfer to the pharmaceutical industries. Selective and sensitive analytical methods for the quantitative evaluation of these analytes are critical for the successful conduction of pharmacological studies. Metabolite quantification is always required when the metabolite is toxic or pharmacologically active or when the concentration of metabolite reaches or exceeds the parent drug concentration in plasma. Due to the presence of phenol, flavonoid, isoflavone, flavones, anthocyanin, etc. the antioxidant properties of these highly valuable orchids will be monitored by UV-visible spectroscopy from its tubers, rhizome.