Objective: To investigate the ecological and genetic diversity, climatic factors, edaphic factors morphological and reproductive characters and RAPD analysis of medicinal plant species Pterolobium hexapetalum in two hills viz., Maruthamalai (arid) and Chennimalai (very arid), which is located in Coimbatore and Erode districts, Tamil Nadu. Methods: The present research was carried out by using a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was made to determine the genetic variation between the two populations of the medicinal shrub, Pterolobium hexapetalum in an environmental gradient. Among the five primers tested, the OPN7 (80 %) and OPN17 (71.4 %) produced higher polymorphism was used in RAPD analysis. Results: The results of RAPD analysis showed the presence of 51 individual bands were formed, out of which, 29 were polymorphic bands which showed the existence of genetic variation between populations. A dendrogram was constructed based on Jaccard’s coefficient to determine the degree of genetic relationship among the two populations and analysed. The primers OPN7 and OPN17 were clustered together at a genetic distance level 10. Considering the elevation and proximity, the temperature ranges from 18 °C to 37.6 °C in Maruthamalai hill and 20 °C to 39.4 °C in Chennimalai hill. Conclusion: From the morphoecological studies the results indicated that both arid and very arid climatic conditions showed slight differences in their vegetative and reproductive characters.

The aim of the current study was to assess a scrupulous pharmacognostic cram is to enhance the constructive information with regard to its species identification, characterization and standardization of a dynamic folklore therapeutic plant Pterolobium hexapetalum. It is one of the largest scrambling shrubs belonging to the Leguminosae family having significant medicinal properties. The aerial part of the fresh and healthy plant materials was collected from the Maruthamalai hill, Coimbatore District with a strong traditional background. The confined name of the species is “Karuindu” used as medicine in Siddha, Ayurveda and folk medicine for treating various illnesses. The external morphology of study species, the anatomy of leaf and stem, physicochemical examination of plant powder, powder with diverse chemical reagents, fluorescence analysis of therapeutic powder, ash values, mineral studies, heavy metal analysis, extractive values, phytochemical analysis, GCMS analytical studies were examined with the aim of drafting pharmacopeial principles. The studied plant contains 19 bioactive chemical constituents which confirm the healing domination. The analytical assessment of study species authenticates the presence of various bioactive constituents with a broad range of remedial properties which is used to treat manifold muddle as well it provides a comprehensive insight regarding the phytoconstituents profile which could be browbeaten for the maturity of plant-supported drugs.