DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2014.v02i12.024

Pages: 968-972

Seasonal effects on foliar photosynthetic pigments, nutrients and crude alkaloids of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall ex Nees. were studied on four seasons of the year. Maximum foliar photosynthetic pigments and nutrients were observed in monsoon (June-August) and minimum in winter (December-February) respectively. Whilst maximum crude alkaloids were determined in leaf of early monsoon (March-May) and minimum in stem of winter. Rf values of extracts of crude alkaloids varied with five different concentrations of solvent systems used in the experiment. Rf values ranged from 0.985-0.213 where maximum number of Rf observed in benzene: chloroform: acetic acid and minimum in methanol: water in all treatments irrespective of growing seasons and age of plants under the present experimental conditions. Present study concludes that monsoon (June-August) is suitable for efficient photosynthesis as well as nutrient accumulation in kalomegh and early monsoon (March-May) is the perfect time for harvesting kalomegh to be obtained maximum alkaloid for medicinal use.