Screening and Quantification of Artemisinin and Phytochemicals Content in Artemisia nilagarica (C.B. Clarke) Pamp

The present study reports, for the first time, the quantification of secondary metabolites including artemisinin in field grown plant samples and in vitro regenerated plantlets and callus tissues of Artemisia nilagarica (C.B. Clarke) Pamp. The influence of different growth regulators on in vitro micropropagation and callus induction was investigated. Maximum shoot multiplication from shoot tip explants was observed in explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 1 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid in combination with 5 mg/L kinetin followed by medium supplemented with 1 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid in combination with 3 mg/L kinetin and the shoot buds also showed rooting in these media. Rooted plantlets were successfully established in the soil. Friable callus was induced from shoot tip explants of in vitro regenerated plantlets on medium supplemented with combination of 1 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid and 5 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine. Secondary metabolites such as phenol, alkaloid, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, phlobatannins, chalcones and anthraquinones were found to be present in A. nilagarica. The highest amount of alkaloid, saponin, steroid and DPPH free radical scavenging activity was obtained in shoot tips, stems, roots and leaves respectively while the artemisinin content was higher in leaves of field grown plants than in in vitro regenerated plantlets and callus tissues.