Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Medicinal plants are the raw materials for isolation of the pure active compounds for formulations into drugs, as intermediates in the production of semi-synthetic drugs and for preparation of standardized galenicals. The improvement in quality and quantity can be made with the application of Biofertilizers, the AM fungi, one of the important beneficial microorganisms of the soil edaphon in most agro-ecosystem. The present work is focused on the efficiency of the interactions between AM fungi and selected medicinal herbs on growth performance and principle compounds. Euphorbia hirta, Eclipta alba, Leucas aspera and Achyranthus aspera, were inoculated with various AM fungi - Aculospora bireticulata, A. laevis, A. lacunosa, Glomus aggregatum, G. geosporum, G. fasciculatum and G.mosseae to analyze the principle compounds of the host plants and AM fungal host specificity. The well known principle compounds of the selected taxa were elucidated by HPLC. Results have revealed positive effect of AMF inoculation on growth parameters in treated medicinal herbs compared to uninoculated control. All the AM fungal species significantly increased the concentration of Wadelolactone, Leucasperol, Quercitrin and Betaine in AM fungal treated plants. However the contents vary with the species. E. alba treated with G. aggregatum and E. hirta and L. aspera with G. mosseae showed enhanced levels of principle compounds. Whereas, G. fasciculatum has significantly improved the contents of active principles confirming the host specificity of AM fungi. These wild crafted, non-conventional leafy vegetables particularly are good source of antioxidants for a regular diet and are of higher nutraceutical values. This could impact on human health, cost of welfare and even on the revenue for the producer.

Biography

D R Jayashree is an Assistant Professor in Department of Biotechnology, M.S.Ramaiah College, Bangalore, India with 17 years of teaching experience. She has participated in several national and international conferences in India and abroad and presented papers, of which one was adjudicated as the best paper of the session at a 4th International Conference on Medicinal plants and Herbal products held at Johns Hopkins University, Rockville, and M.D. USA. 2012, and best poster presentation at national Conference, 2013, Department of Botany, Bangalore University. Bangalore. Presently she is pursuing PhD degree under the guidance of Prof. D H Tejavathi, Department of Botany, Bangalore University.