The Variations in the Phytochemical Attributes of Nerium Oleander, Ricinus Communis, Calotropis Procera and Withania Somnifera From Three Ecological Zones of Pakistan

Abstract

Abstract The phyto-climatic diversity in a region presents the life form of vegetation. Plants produce vast and diverse variety of phytochemicals to communicate and minimize the climatic threats. In the current study, the variations in the phytochemical attributes of four plant species (Nerium oleander, Ricinus communis, Calotropis procera and Withania somnifera)from three ecological zones of Pakistan (sandy desert, irrigated & rain-fed plains) were investigated. The phenolic acids, flavonoids and tannins were quantitatively analyzed by methanolic extraction and standardized methods. The results revealed that zone rainfed lands and zone sandy desert showed the maximum amount of phytochemicals in all species and also exhibited the extreme environmental conditions. The irrigated plains had less stressful environmental condition and maximum amount of soil organic matter that resulted in minimum amount of phytochemicals in plant species. Previous research also supports the evidence that environmental stresses like temperature stresses, water stresses, high light intensities increase, and organic matter hinders the accumulation of phytochemicals. This study proved that same species in different ecological zones show different amounts of phytochemicals due to environmental variations, although environmental stresses exert the effects on plants to produce more phytochemicals.