GC-MS analysis and somatic embryogenesis in Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. Var. NeiKumbalam

Abstract

NeiKumbalam is a medicinal vegetable and major ingredient of ayurvedic preparations. Due to the medicinal property and rare distribution, the present study was focused on the phytochemical analysis and somatic embryogenesis in NeiKumbalam. GC-MS analysis of hexane extract of NeiKumbalam fruit pulp revealed the presence of 8 major compounds including Trichloromethane (53%), 3-Pyrrolidinol (28%) and Methane oxybis [dichloro- (18%), while the major constituent of seed extract was 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)- (100%). Results showed the presence of biologically and pharmacologically active compounds in NeiKumbalam fruit, among them 9, 12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z)- was a 6 omega fatty acid. Callus induction was highest on MS medium supplemented with BAP1.0mg/l which showed 60±1.4% of callus induction frequency. Callus was white, friable and embryogenic. Within 14 weeks, the better number of somatic embryoids was observed on the same medium.