Study on impact of different climatic zones on physicochemical and phytochemical profile of Withaniasomnifera (L.) Dunal

The main objective of the present investigation included a comparative physicochemical, phytochemical along with chromatographic evaluation of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal roots collected from various Indian climatic zones. The study includes macroscopical, microscopical, physicochemical, phytochemical and chromatographic evaluation of W. somnifera roots collected from different climatic zones (desert, plains, coastal and plateau) of India. Further, chromatographic evaluations were carried out taking Withaferine-A and Withanoloid-A as biomarkers with the help of HPTLC and HPLC analysis. The physicochemical parameters evaluated were found to be within the prescribed limits of the WHO, while the phytochemical analysis showed the higher quantities of phytoconstituents obtained from desert followed by coastal regions. The chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of maximum number of phytoconstituents in sample from coastal and desert region. Further, the quantification of Withaferine-A and Withanoloid-A was carried out using HPTLC and HPLC. The results confirmed higher quantity of both the biomarkers in samples collected from desert followed by coastal region. Thus, the study may be helpful in understanding the role of climatic zones in relation to the variability in phytochemical composition of medicinal plants such as W. somnifera. This will help in selecting the better quality of medicinal plant for preparation of herbal formulations with best therapeutic value that will serve the society.