Screening of some ethnobotanically important plants of Nagar area Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Certain species of ethnobotanical importance belonging to families Asteraceae, Berberidaceae, Cupressaceae, Elaeagnaceae, Gentianaceae, Salicaceae and Tamaricaceae, were collected from Gilgit during the months of June and July 2008 and were investigated for the presence of alkaloids, amino acids, anthraquinone [free and as glycosides] ascorbic acid, carbohydrates, coumarins, flavonoids, phenolics, proteins, saponins and steroids in their aqueous, ethanol and benzene extracts. Artemisia maritime L. [leaves] showed positive results for carbohydrates, coumarins, phenolics and proteins. Ephedra gerardiana Wall ex. Stapf. [stem] tested positive for alkaloids, ascorbic acid, coumarins, phenolics, proteins, saponins and steroids. Tamarix gallica L. tested positive for alkaloids, amino acids, anthraquinone as glycoside, ascorbic acid, carbohydrates, flavonoids, phenolics, proteins and steroids in stems, roots and leaves. Salix acmophylla Boiss. showed positive results for alkaloids, amino acids, anthraquinone [free and as glycosides] ascorbic acid, carbohydrates, flavonoids, phenolics, proteins, saponins and natural steroids. Hippophae rhamnoides L. showed positive results for alkaloids, amino acids, anthraquinone [free as glycosides] ascorbic acid, carbohydrates, coumarins, flavonoids, phenolics, proteins, saponins and steroids. Berberis glycocarpa Stapf. showed positive results for alkaloids, amino acids, ascorbic acid, carbohydrates, flavonoids, phenolics, proteins and steroids in stem, roots and leaves. Similarly Juniperus excelsa Wall ex. C.A. Meyer showed positive result for anthraquinone [both free and as glycosides], carbohydrates, phenolics, proteins, saponins and natural steroids

Preliminary phytochemical screening of some plants of ethnobotanical importance from district Gilgit of Northern Areas, Pakistan

Seven medicinal plants of ethnobotanical importance belonging to families Elaeganaceae, Gentianaceae, Cupressaceae, Asleraceae, Tamaricaceae, Berberidaceae and Salicaceae were investigated for the presence of alkaloids, amino acids, anthraquinone [free nad as glycosides] ascorbic acid, carbohydrates, coumarins, flavonoids, phenolics, proteins, saponins and steroids in their coumarins, phenolics and proteins. Ephedra gerardiana [stem] [family ephedraceae] tested positive for alkaloids, ascorbic acid, coumarins, phenolics, proteins, saponins and steroids. Tamarix gallica [Family Tamaricaceae] tested positive for alkaloids, amino acids, anthraquinone as glycoside, ascorbic acid, carbohydrates, flavonoids, phenolics, proteins and steroids in stems, roots and leaves. Salix accomophylla [family Silaceae] showed positive results for alkaloids, amino acids, anthraquinone [free and as glycosides] ascorbic acid, carbohydrates, flavonoids, phenolics, proteins, saponins and steroids. Hippophe rhamnoides [family Elaeganaceae] showed positive results for alkaloids, amino acids, anthraquinone [free and as glycosides] ascorbic acid, carbohydrates, coumarins, flavonoids, phenolics, proteins, saponins and steroids. Berberis aristata [family Berberidaceae] showed positive results for alkaloids, amino acids, ascorbic acid, carbohydrates, flavonoids, phenolics, proteins and steroids in stem, roots and leaves, Juniperus excelsa [Family Juniperaceae] showed positive results for anthraquinone [both free and as glycosides], carbohydrates, phenolics, proteins, saponins and steroids

Germination promotion of rhazya stricta decne

Rhazya stricta Decne is a medicinally important plant of sub-montane tracts in Pakistan. Laboratory studies revealed that non-treated seeds had 66%, 64% and 40% germination after 25 days incubation at 20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C respectively. Mechanically scarified seeds treated with 0.50 ppm GA3 and IAA gave 90% and 70% germination at 25 °C after 14 days. Mechanical scarification followed by 1- and 2-minutes treatment with acetone gave 78-80% germination at 20 °C and 65-70% at 25% on the 16 th day

In vitro differentiation and culture of rauwolfia root

Stem callus of Rauwolfia serpentina was induced to differentiate roots in vitro by the supplementation of culture medium with 0.1 mg/I NAA and 0.1 mg/I BAP. Differentiated roots were excised and cultured successfully. The average increase in number of lateral roots formation was observed as 110.86% in one week. Ajmaline was the major alkaloid found in differentiated roots

Germination behaviour of withania somnifera [L] dunal

Withania somnifera [L.] Dunal. A medicinally important plant, exhibits delayed and poor germination. The study was, therefore, conducted to find rapid method for improved germination. The findings suggest that freshly collected seeds do not germinate probably due to immature embryo requiring post-harvest maturation period. Seeds exhibited 70-80% germination with the application of IAA, Ga3 or Thiourea alone or in combination with mechanical scarification at 25 ?C. Similarly, nutrient solution and soaking in water alone or subsequent to mechanical scarification enhanced the germination to over 50%. The germination was better at pH7, in surface sown seeds and at field capacity in water saturated conditions. The findings suggest that hard testa might be primarily responsible for delaying and reducing the germination and secondarily assisted by the inhibitors in the seed coat