Chromosomal biotypes of Andrographis paniculata in India and Bangladesh

Use of herbal and natural ancient medicines is gaining a gradual popularity, instead of isolated or synthesized compounds for their side effects and many hazards . But the discoveries of different genotypes, cytotypes, chemical races etc. raised the question of selecting the most suitable ones. Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees, highly valued throughout the world as a liver toner, has a wide distribution, covering highly varying climatic and edaphic condi tions. Naturally the possibility of discovering chromosomally distinguishable gentotypes in different populations and finally graduating such genotypes according to yield of medicinal compounds was worth exploring. Chromosome study offers a quick way of recognizing genotypes, if the chromosomes show detectable structural or numerical difference which may arise by addition, deletion, translocation, transposition, fragmentation, aneuploidy, euploidy etc. (Spurna et al. 1981), e.g., Scilla (Sato 1942), Datura fastuosa (Bhaduri and Sharma 1946), Lathyrus sativus (Datta 1955), Ipomoea quamoclit (Sharma and Datta 1958), Lathyrus odoratus (Sharma and Datta 1959), Adhatoda vasica (Datta and Maiti 1968a), Centella asialica (Datta and Maiti 1968b), Capsicum annuum (Datta 1968), Abelmoschus esculentus (Datta and Naug 1968), Cajanus cajan (Datta and Deb 1970), etc. This investigation on populations of A. paniculata revealed 13 such chromosomal biotypes, the analysis of which helped in having a tentative idea of the path of geographical migration of the species in India and Bangladesh.

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