PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF 3 ENDANGERED MEDICINAL TAXA OF SOUTH GUJARAT FORESTS

Seasonal variations in some reserved food materials have been investig ated in three tree species. The concentration of carbohydrates were fo und to be in increasing order of leaves > bark > wood. The S. anacardi um showed higher level of total carbohydrates during the winter as com pared to monsoon and summer seasons in all the plant parts tested. How ever, M. philippensis accumulated higher levels of sugar, starch and t otal carbohydrates in both the seasons of winter and monsoon in all th e parts. While P. marsupium appeared to have significantly elevated le vels of total carbohydrates during the period of summer over that of m onsoon and winter. The summer leaves of M. philippensis, summer and mo nsoon bark of P. marsupium were the stable suitable sources of higher protein reserve. The leaves of S. anacardium and M. philippensis witne ssed highest amount of amino acid in all the seasons, when compared to bark and wood. Leaves of M. philippensis exhibited higher level of li pid content in all the seasons as compared to bark and wood and also o ther two tare. The seeds of M. philippensis and P. marsupium had highe r levels of carbohydrates. The proteins, amino acids and lipids in the seeds of S. anacardium were higher as compared to M. philippensis and P. marsupium.