Arangale K.B. and Tuwar A.R.
Abstract
Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban, commonly known as Gotu Kola, is an important medicinal herb with diverse pharmacological properties, including neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and antioxidant effects. These therapeutic activities are primarily attributed to its secondary metabolites, such as triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, phenolics, and alkaloids. Enhancing the yield and diversity of these compounds is a major focus of plant biotechnology. Polyploidy induction, particularly through colchicine treatment, has emerged as an effective approach to improve both the qualitative and quantitative production of bioactive metabolites. In the present study, colchicine was applied at optimized concentrations and durations to induce autotetraploidy in actively growing shoot tips of C. asiatica. Phytochemical screening of control (diploid) and colchicine-treated (colchiploid) plants was conducted using standard biochemical assays. Results revealed that colchiploid plants exhibited an enhanced accumulation of phenolics, triterpenoid saponins, alkaloids, and flavonoids compared to diploid controls. Notably, phenolic compounds and triterpenoid saponins, which contribute significantly to the plantâs pharmacological efficacy, were markedly elevated. These findings suggest that colchicine-induced polyploidy positively influences secondary metabolite biosynthesis in C. asiatica. The study highlights the potential of polyploidy as a biotechnological tool for improving metabolite profiles in medicinal plants. Such strategies could facilitate sustainable production of pharmaceutically important compounds, reduce dependence on natural populations, and support the commercial cultivation of improved chemotypes of C. asiatica.