Biochemical and phytochemical variations during the growth phase of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

Abstract

Withanolides are therapeutically important secondary withanolides present in Withania somnifera. The present study was conducted to identify the growth stage of the plant that corresponds with the maximum amount of in vivo withanolide concentration and to correlate these values with the concentration of other phytochemicals and metabolic products. The plants were grown from seedling stage till 150 days from germination. At an interval of every 30 days the plants were checked for differences in the concentrations of withanolides and various other phytochemical compounds. HPLC analysis revealed a significant increase in the withanolide A and withaferin A at 60 days from germination which showed a strong correlation with the carbohydrate levels of the plant. This data will be useful for commercial extraction of withanolides from W. somnifera at higher concentrations