Production and molecular characterisation of gentiopicroside in Gentiana kurroo and Swertia chirata

Abstract

Medicinally important herbs occupy the biggest sector of the pharamceutical industry. Their ability to synthesis certain chemical compounds which fall under the category of primary and secondary metabolites, where on one aspect serve as their natural mechanism against any sought of environmental stress and on the other aspect play their role by becoming part of various medicinal formulations. Gentiana kurroo Royle and Swertia chirata belonging to the family Gentianaceae are an important and highly endangered medicinal herbs used for their high medicinal properies. They are natives of North-western Himalayas and enormously found in places like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttrakhand at an altitudes of 1500-3400 m. The two plant species are members of the family Gentianaceae which has about 16 genera and approximately 145 species.