HPTLC Fingerprinting of Cultivated Picrorhiza kurrooa Accessions in Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya

Productivity and picroside contents of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. cultivated at multi-locations in Uttarakhand, India

“…Picrosides I and II in the roots/rhizome and leaves of cultivated P. kurroa was comparable to the natural population or accessions maintained under experimental conditions at an almost similar altitude (Singh et al, 2005;Katoch et al, 2011;Sultan et al, 2016;Thani et al, 2018;Attri et al, 2021). The average altitude of all cultivation sites was approximately 2400 m (1950 to 2600 m), but the variations in available picrosides I and II in relation to altitudes, age of crop and cultivation sites do not show any definite trend either in roots/rhizomes or in leaves.…”

“…A recent study has confirmed that around 0.74 to 2.50% picroside I and 3.25 to 5.62% picroside II was available in the roots/rhizomes samples of P. kurroa procured from market (Thani et al, 2018). Also, considerable variations were observed in the picrosides I and II content in the roots/rhizomes (stolon) and leaves of P. kurroa accessions maintained under experimental conditions at 2200 m altitude in Uttarakhand (Attri et al, 2021).…”

“…The average altitude of all cultivation sites was approximately 2400 m (1950 to 2600 m), but the variations in available picrosides I and II in relation to altitudes, age of crop and cultivation sites do not show any definite trend either in roots/rhizomes or in leaves. Generally, high altitude medicinal plants are known to have important active ingredients in their specific plant's parts, but some studies have confirmed, in addition to routinely used parts, that is, roots or rhizomes, other plants parts such as stem and leaves also contain medicinally important compounds (Bhadula et al, 1996;Singh et al, 2011;Pandey et al, 2013;Attri et al, 2021). The availability of picrosides I and II content in leaves is encouraging, because, after harvesting and primary processing of P. kurroa at village level, farmer discards the leaves.…”

“…The presence of iridoide glycosides, picrosides I and II in Picrorhiza have much pharmacological importance. Earlier, it was known that only roots/rhizomes of P. kurroa contain picroside, however, some recent studies on naturally growing plants have confirmed, in addition to roots/rhizomes, leaves and inflorescence of this species also contain picrosides I and II (Katoch et al, 2011;Singh et al, 2011;Attri et al, 2021). The biosynthesis of picrosides I and II occurs through non-mevalonate (MEP), mevalonate (MVA), phenylpropanoid, and iridoid pathways (Shitiz et al, 2015).…”

“…Production of P. kurroa is estimated under experimental conditions and assumptions are made based on quantity of roots/rhizomes sold by farmers (Nautiyal et al, 2001;Kuniyal et al, 2021). Information is available on picrosides I and II content of different accessions and market samples collected from herbal market (Thani et al, 2018;Attri et al, 2021). However, information on productivity (production of roots/rhizomes and leaves) and picroside content of cultivated material is not available.…”