Author(s): Mangesh Dagawal and Prabha Bhogaonkar

Abstract: Genus Curcuma L. (Zingiberaceae) comprising of 120 species is distributed throughout South and South-East Asia, with few species extending to China, Austrilia and South Pacific. Four species of Curcuma are reported from Melghat. Of these C. longa L. is cultivated, while C. inodora Blatt., C. pseudomontana J. Graham and C. decipiens Dalzell are wild. C. decipiens being rare coluld not be collected. Curcuma inodora Blatt. known as ‘Jangali Halad’ is a common herb of Melghat at higher elevations. In Melghat area populations of C. inodora are found to show many distinct variations in aerial as well as underground characters. Twelve distinct variants of C. inodora and single accession each of C. pseudomontana and C. longa were collected. HPTLC profile of phenolics showed significantly different banding pattern and Rf values. One of the phenolic compound at 0.75 Rf value is most common chemical compound in all samples except C. longa. Thus C. longa stands distinct. C. pseudomontana clubs with entire C. inodora. however, spot at Rf 0.65 is found only in C. pseudomontana thus making it distinct from C. inodora accessions. HPTLC screening of phenolics reflects distinctness as well as relatedness of the species. Phenolic profile can be used for the standardization of three Curcuma species studied here.