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[Display omitted] • The intra-specific chemical variations in Ocimum viride are rarely reported. • Chemical variations among seven genotypes of Ocimum viride were studied. • GC-FID analysis revealed high eugenol (37.8−45.7%) and (Z)-β-ocimene (9.3−29.5%). • The (−)-germacrene D was most predominant isomer with 99.1 % enantiomeric excess. • Genotypes, 129 and 132 were the best for essential oil and high eugenol proportions. Ocimum viride is known for its diverse medicinal uses. However, most previous studies have been conducted on phytochemical assessment, but intra-specific chemical variations are rarely reported. Chemical variations among seven genotypes of O. viride were studied over three consecutive years in the experimental farm in CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow. The essential oils obtained by hydro-distillation from the aerial parts of O. viride genotypes were subjected to GC, enantiomeric GC, and GC/MS analyses for their chemical characterization. GC-FID analysis revealed maximum proportions of eugenol (37.8 %–45.8 %) along with monoterpenes such as (Z)-β-ocimene (9.3 %–29.5 %). The sesquiterpenoids identified were β-caryophyllene (3.1 %–4.6 %), α- trans -bergamotene (5.5 %–7.4 %) and germacrene D (5.9 %–10.6 %). Chiral separation of germacrene D enantiomers [(+)– and (−)–form] were achieved using a cyclodextrin-based capillary column in each genotype. (−)–Germacrene D was found to be the most predominant enantiomer in all genotypes. Genotype 133 was recorded with the highest enantiomeric excess (≥ 99 %) for (−)–germacrene D. Besides, genotype 131 contained high monoterpenoids. Major chemical constituents such as eugenol were isolated through column chromatography, and structure elucidation was carried out using 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) showed the stability pattern of extracted essential oils and revealed the complete volatile degradation ranged from 160 °C–200 °C. The statistical analysis was performed to select the best genotypes. The study revealed the best genotypes based on the correlation between constituents × years (C × Y) interaction. These analyses helped better estimate essential oil yield analysis, chemical diversity, and herb yield analysis on a field experiment basis. In conclusion, genotypes 129 and 132 had the highest essential oil output and eugenol content (%). Eugenol, a marker chemical ingredient, was reported with the highest proportions in genotype 132 at the full bloom stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Chenopodium spp. is being used as a leafy vegetable and subsidiary grain crop in different parts of the world due to its rich nutritional quality and its ability to grow in stress conditions. A field experiment was conducted in Lucknow (India) to assess the genetic diversity in 40 accessions of Chenopodium spp. based on mineral composition of the leaves. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that the first 4 PCs (Principal Component) accounted for 74.70% of the total variance among the accessions. The first PC (PC1) accounted for 41.96% of the total qualitative variation and had nickel, zinc and chromium with high positive and copper with high negative coefficients. The most important loadings for PC2 were calcium and potassium. Cluster analysis grouped the accessions into 4 major clusters. The first cluster, which showed maximum diversity, had 17 accessions, all of C. quinoa having high content of most of the heavy metals viz. zinc, chromium, nickel and cadmium. Cluster II was the largest consisting of 18 accessions which had low content of nickel, cadmium and chromium. Cluster III contained 3 accessions that had lowest amount of calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc, while accessions in cluster IV were characterized by high levels of calcium, sodium, magnesium, nickel, chromium and cadmium. Significant genotypic differences existed in the heavy metal uptake by plants. Mineral uptake and concentration in Chenopodium spp. corresponds to the taxonomic categorization in the genus and could also be utilized as a supplementary taxonomic tool for grouping together of closely related taxa. Conclusively the diversity can be exploited in plant breeding programs for increasing nutritional value and for bioremediation purposes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The occurrence and distribution of four major hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers (α-, β-, γ- and δ-) were studied in vegetation samples of a highly contaminated area close to a small-scale industrial belt in Lucknow (North India). Eight species of plants were collected at different points of the contaminated area and different parts of the plants were separated in order to study the difference in uptake and accumulation. The samples were extracted by matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) extraction and finally determined by a gas-chromatograph equipped with 63Ni electron capture detector (ECD). HCH isomers were present in almost all samples and the concentration of total HCH in the plant sample analyzed varied between 13 and 44mgkg−1, being the main isomer of β-HCH (8–22mgkg−1). Lindane (γ-HCH) was present in all samples (1–9mgkg−1). Solanum torvum Sw., and Erianthus munja shows the highest and lowest capacity for accumulation of HCH, respectively with a significant difference at p <0.01 level. The highest concentration of HCH residue in root samples indicates the most likely mechanism of HCH accumulation in these plants was sorption of soil HCH on roots. Solanum torvum Sw., and Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal could accumulate considerable levels of HCH isomers (44 and 34mgkg−1, respectively). The results reflect the importance of plants in monitoring purposes and their potential for phytoremediation of HCH contaminated soils. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]