Stress-induced impacts on antioxidant potential and production of photosynthetic pigments of Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R. Br. ex Sm.

Gymnema sylvestre is a perennial woody climber belonging to the family Apocynaceae. The leaves and roots of the plant have medicinal properties and are used in the Ayurveda system of medicine to treat various diseases. It is an important medicinal plant mainly for its antidiabetic properties and also it possess anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-oxidant activities. In this study the effect of stress signals in the pigment production and anti-oxidant potential assessed. The experiment was conducted in a poly house with twelve replications of each treatment. The different stress signals were Zinc sulphate, Sodium nitroprusside, Salicylic acid, Jasmonic acid and Squalene. The present study reveals an idea about the effect of stress signals in antioxidant activity and pigment production. The fresh leaf samples of treated plants were collected for pigment estimation. The leaf samples of treated plants were collected, dried and extracted in methanol and this methanolic extracts were used for analysis of anti-oxidant activity. A variation in both the parameters observed in different treatments.