Variation in Phytochemical Content in Polyploid Populations of Hyoscyamus pusillus Thriving at Different Altitudes in Cold Deserts of Ladakh, India.

The nature of plant medicines is decided by the secondary metabolites it contains which may fluctuate with the altitude. We here studied the variation in total phenols and flavonoids and three marker compounds viz., atropine, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid in different plant parts of Hyoscyamus pusillus collected from three sites having varying altitudes. The ploidy level was determined through the standard acetocarmine technique. The atropine, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid content in different plant parts and populations were estimated using High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were evaluated using the Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and Aluminium chloride method respectively. The free radical scavenging activity was measured by DPPH assay. Investigation revealed that a high land population has a higher content of phenols and flavonoids and showed better scavenging of DPPH free radicals. The HPTLC analysis showed that the content of atropine, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid was maximum in roots and plants thriving at higher altitudes compared to plants at lower altitudes. Locally, the species is used for treating toothache and relieves the griping pain caused by drastic purgatives. Further, the populations at higher altitudes can be explored as an alternative source of atropine, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]