Effects of carbon/nitrogen compost ratio on asiaticoside and madecassoside content and morphological traits of pegaga (centella asiatica)

• Main Author: Mary Sintoh
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: QK710-899 Plant physiology
• Online Access: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/40570/1/24%20PAGES.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/40570/2/FULLTEXT.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/40570/
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) L. Urban (Umbelliferae) or Pegaga is an important herbal plants used in traditional medicine, modern herbal preparation and in the drug development for host of diseases. In this study, the yield of phytochemicals in C. asiatica namely madecassoside and asiaticoside and its’ morphological traits were studied in relation to their compost carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio. The preparation and characterisation of three types of compost namely (1) compost A; (2) compost B; (3) compost C; and another commercial compost Biosmart and control were undertaken. The C. asiatica kampong variety with cordate leaves and crenate margin was used. The leaf and petiole of C. asiatica were harvested in a monthly interval, and five monthly reading was recorded for statistical analysis and for the extraction and determination of asiaticoside and madecassoside using Reverse Phase Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC). Results show that the four types of compost and control have C/N value ranging from 7.15 to 13.43. A good compost quality has a C/N value between 12 to 15. C. asiatica asiaticoside content range from 1.80 mg/g (0.18%) to 35.32 mg/g (3.53%) with C. asiatica planted with Biosmart yield the highest asiaticoside content of 35.32 mg/g (3.53%) in August, three months after planted as compared to control (23.21 mg/g or 2.31%). The C. asiatica madecassoside content range from 1.84 mg/g (0.18%) to 22.59 mg/g (2.26%) with C. asiatica planted with commercial Biosmart having the highest madecassoside content of 22.59 mg/g (2.26%) in August compared to negative control of 16.72 mg/g (1.67%). In this study, it is found that C/N had significant effect to the morphological trait (length of petiole, size of leaves and number of progenies) and the asiaticoside and madecassoside content using Pearson Correlation Coefficient (P=+1 or -1) . Their C/N value is steadily low (8.92 to 10.13) compared to the standard of a good compost (C/N 12 to 15) throughout the cultivation.