Agrawal, SanjeevPant, Vinita2019-02-022019-02-022018-08http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810093372Withania somnifera, commonly known as Ashwagandha, is a traditional herb of Indian origin having extensive therapeutic importance. Ashwagandha contain various bioactive compounds in which withanolides, especially withaferin A and withanolides A are of major therapeutic value. Conventional propagation of Ashwagandha faces major problems due to many diseases, poor seed viability and germination. Owing to its huge commercial application, micropropagation method has become a rapid and efficient method of its production. In present investigation four chemotypes (P4, P11, P20and J9), were taken for in vitro propagation and maintenance through tissue culture technique. The plant extracts were prepared of these four in vitro grown chemotypes and two field grown varieties (Jawahar-20 and Poshita) in two different solvents viz. methanol: water (80:20) and water for the efficient recovery of their bioactive compounds. The extracts were prepared for their investigation on biochemical parameters like total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), ortho-dihydroxy phenol (ODP) and total antioxidant activity (TAA). Biochemical evaluation of these two extracts showed better phytochemical recovery in aqueous methanolic extract (80%) with respect to water. The phytochemical content also varied with the chemotypes. Among the field grown varieties Poshita showed higher content of TPC, ODP content and TAA compared to Jawahar-20, however the TFC was higher in Jawahar-20. Similarly among the in vitro grown chemotypes P4 showed maximum content of TPC, ODP content and TAA and the TFC content was higher in J9 type. Further the variation was also analysed by phytochemical profiling through thin layer chromatography along with protein study using SDS-PAGE. The phytochemical content and protein composition varied with the variation in chemotypes as well as solvent composition used for extraction.ennullThesis