Abstract

QUALITATIVE ASSAY OF AMINO ACIDS AND AMIDES IN SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS OF TEPHROSIA PURPUREA IN VINDHYAN EGION

Rashmi Arnold*

Abstract

Tephrosia purpurea is a plant found in open spaces in rocky and barren grounds a weed. The plant Tephrosia purpurea (L) Pers is an important source of medicinal drugs and has a well recognized place in the indigenous system of medicine. It has been mentioned in both the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine. Tephrosia L. or Sarpunkha is a wild legume belonging to family Leguminosae (Sub family- Papilionaceae) and grows throughout India and Western Himalaya. The seeds of Tephrosia purpurea showed strong dormancy. The reason of the dormancy in the seeds is due to the yellowish pigment with a strong odour given out by the seed coat when the seed comes in contact with moisture. Seed germination initiated by hydration and activation of enzymes, is accompanied by breakdown of reserve food material, its transportation resynthesis and utilization before new substances are synthesized on account of Photosynthesis. Amino acids, as constituents of proteins play the most important role in these changes. Chromatographic methods are generally followed to assess such changes.

Keywords: Tephrosia purpurea, seeds and seedling, chromatographic methods, etc.