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Planta Med 2011; 77(17): 1958-1964
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1279997
Analytical Studies
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Metabolic Characterization of Withania somnifera from Different Regions of India Using NMR Spectroscopy

Ajay G. Namdeo1 , 2 , Ajay Sharma1 , Kavita N. Yadav1 , Rupali Gawande1 , Kakasaheb R. Mahadik1 , Maria Pilar Lopez-Gresa5 , Hye Kyong Kim2 , Young Hae Choi2 , 3 , Robert Verpoorte2 , 4
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune, India
  • 2Division of Pharmacognosy, Section Metabolomics, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
  • 3Plant Ecology and Phytochemistry, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
  • 4College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
  • 5Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMCP), CSIC-UPV, Valencia, Spain
Further Information

Publication History

received March 6, 2011 revised May 17, 2011

accepted May 25, 2011

Publication Date:
04 July 2011 (online)

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Abstract

Withania somnifera (L.) Dun. (Solanaceae), known as Indian ginseng, is one of the most popular medicinal plants in India. Considering the importance and common use of this plant, it is necessary to investigate its holistic metabolite profile. However, with existing analytical methods which are based on TLC and HPLC-UV (or MS), it is difficult to obtain information of the whole range of compounds appropriately. In this study, the metabolic characterization of Withania somnifera leaves, stems, and roots collected in six different regions in India was performed using 1H NMR spectroscopy followed by principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). Of the parts of Withania somnifera analyzed in this study, the leaf was found to have the widest range of metabolites, including amino acids, flavonoids, lipids, organic acids, phenylpropanoids, and sugars, as well as the main secondary metabolites of the plant, withanolides. The 1H NMR spectra revealed the presence of two groups of withanolides: 4-OH and 5,6-epoxy withanolides (withaferin A-like steroids) and 5-OH and 6,7-epoxy withanolides (withanolides A-like steroids). The ratio of these two withanolides was found to be a key discriminating feature of Withania somnifera leaf samples from different origins.

Key words

Withania somnifera - Solanaceae - metabolic characterization - NMR - withanolides

Supporting Information

References

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Dr. Young Hae Choi

Division of Pharmacognosy, Section Metabolomics
Institute of Biology
Leiden University

Einsteinweg 55

2333 CC Leiden

The Netherlands

Phone: +31 71 5 27 45 10

Fax: +31 71 5 27 45 11

Email: y.choi@chem.leidenuniv.nl