PJB-2017-130
SPATIO-TEMPORAL VARIATIONS IN NUTRITIONAL AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF THORN APPLE (SOLANUM INCANUM L.), A RARE MEDICINAL PLANT SPECIES OF THE SALT RANGE, PAKISTAN
IFTIKHAR AHMAD, MUMTAZ HUSSAIN, M. SAJID AQEEL AHMAD, M. ASIM SULTAN, M. YASIN ASHRAF, MISHAL IFTIKHAR, ATTIA NOREEN AND AHMAD MUNEEB
Abstract
In this study, Thorn Apple (Solanum incanum L.) plants collected during different seasons from various sites (Khabeki, Khoora, Dape Sharif, Anga, Jallar) in Soon Valley (Salt Range) were analyzed for some of the nutritional and medicinal components to investigate the spatio-temporal variations in the synthesis/accumulation of these compounds. The aim was to select the suitable harvesting season and site for deriving maximum quantity of these compounds from the plant. Partial RDA ordination biplot regarding the effects of seasons on biochemical attributes of S. incanum shoots showed that moisture and alkaloidal contents and most of the nutrients such as P, K, Ca and Fe strongly correlated with spring (growing) season. Fats and phenols were correlated with winter and autumn. Total minerals, Zn, Mg, fibers, proteins and N were associated with summer. The spatial effects of different sites on biochemical parameters indicated that dry matter, fibers, Na, Ca, Zn and NFES (nitrogen free extractable substances) were strongly correlated with nutrients and high field capacity at Khabeki site. Alkaloids, phenols, fats and K showed almost equal correlation with drier Dape Sharif and Jallar sites. However, in S. incanum fruits, Zn, Mg and Fe showed no significant correlation with any specific site, whereas alkaloids, flavonoids, dry matter, K and P were strongly associated with salt and drought stressed area of Jallar, whereas Ca, Na and fibers were weakly correlated. Protein, nitrogen, fats, phenols and minerals were strongly correlated with nitrogen containing clay loam soils of Khabeki and Jallar sites. NFES was also correlated with fruits collected from Khoora site whose soil was inversely correlated with N contents that is why NFES were higher at this site. In roots of S. incanum, phenols and alkaloids were correlated with high soil pH and more availability of minerals during spring. Therefore for S. incanum, summer season is the most favorable season for the synthesis of nutritional components and spring season for medicinal components, whereas areas with stressed and high pH soil (Jallar and Dape Sharif) are the most suitable sites for collecting S. incanum plants possessing maximum quantity of medicinal as well as nutritional components. However, for fruit collection of S. incanum, stressed (Jallar) site is the most suitable for medicinal components and high mineral containing (Khabeki) site for nutritional components.
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