A comparative study on bioactive constituents between wild and in vitro propagated Centella asiatica

Centella asiatica (Umbelliferae) has been used for centuries in Indian ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of a wide number of health disorders. The aim of this study was to estimate and compare the concentration of bioactive compounds between wild and in vitro propagated C. asiatica plants. A marked decrease in the total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid was observed between in vitro propagated and wild type plants collected from wet land habitat. The radical scavenging activity of the wild type plant extracts also varied with the habitats. This study clearly indicates that environmental factors play a crucial role in the plant metabolic activity and medicinal activity.