Project No. : DL-01/2008-09
Year. : 2008-09
Project Title: Molecular charaterization of Shankhapushpi: A controversial drug of traditional medicine
State: Delhi
Theme: Biotechnology
Plant species: Convolvulus pluricaulis
Principal Investigator & Organization : Dr. P.S. Srivastava, Professor & Head, Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi - 110 062
Status: Closed
Summary of Project / Major Outcome /Achievements : In this study Clitoria ternatea, Convolvulus pluricaulis and Evolvulus alsinoides were used as a source plant of Shankhpushpi. Plant material of all species was collected from different geographical regions of India. Plant material was subject to DNA extraction and RAPD & HPLC analysis. RAPD markers revealed that genotypes of Evolvulus alsinoides showed highest (86.66%) genetic diversity followed by Convolvulus pluricaulis (73.91%) and Clitoria ternatea (54.21%). Molecular characterization of market samples reveals that samples purchased from Delhi, M.P., U.P., and Gujarat were C. pluriculus; while the samples collected from Rajasthan and West Bengal share identity with E. alsinoides. The samples procured from Kerala and Assam did not match with any of the plants equated with Shankhpushpi. The maximum concentration of kaempferol was found in the samples of Clitoria ternatea followed by Convolvulus pluricaulis and Evolvulus alsiniodes.
