Are the white and black morphs of Sida alnifolia phytochemically different

Abstract

We compared the phytochemical constituents of the white and black morphotypes of the medicinal plant Sida alnifolia the latter which is believed to have better medicinal properties than the former as per traditional knowledge prevailing in Kerala, India. Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Phenols, Starch and Ephedrine and fourteen plant minerals were quantified in plant samples collected from all 5 agro-geographical zones in Kerala. Soil was collected from two depths from the locations of the plants and nineteen soil parameters were analyzed. The study unequivocally showed that there exists no significant variation in the phytochemical profile of the white and black morphotypes of S.alnifolia. However, the phytochemical contents of plants collected from different agro-ecological zones showed prominent variations. Edaphic factors did not possess any correspondent correlation with both the colour morphs. This probably indicate that either the genotype or abiotic environmental effects have led to genetic drift of S.alnifolia across zones.