Evaluation of Primary Metabolites during Different Developmental Stages in Alhagi maurorum and Caralluma edulis from Arid Zone

The present study deals with evaluation of primary metabolites in two important medicinal plants, viz. Alhagi maurorum (Camelthorn) and Caralluma edulis (Pimpa) from the IndianThar desert. Primary metabolites such as leaf pigments, osmotic potential, proline, total sugars, crude protein and phosphorus were estimated during different developmental stages, i.e. vegetative, flowering and fruiting. The leaf pigments, total sugars, phosphorus and crude protein were maximum during vegetative stage, whereas proline and osmotic potential during flowering and fruiting stages, respectively in A. maurorum. In C. edulis, maximum amount of leaf pigments and proline were observed during fruiting stage; whereas osmotic potential, total sugars and phosphorus during flowering stage; and crude protein in vegetative stage.