Babchi (Psoralea corylifolia (L.) Medikus Syn. Cullen corylifolium (L.) Medikus) is an erect, annual herb belonging to family-Fabaceae. The herb is also known as “Kushtanashini” in Ayurveda due to its wider use in the treatment of leprosy. The seeds of Babchi are used in the Indian system of medicine in the treatment of leucoderma, leprosy and other skin diseases.The seed is surrounded by a sticky, oily pericarp which contains variety of furocoumarins including psoralens. Psoralen and its isomer, iso-psoralen, are the main active compounds which are therapeutically important. Due to its photo-biological properties, the interest of researchers has been increased in psoralens. The seeds are collected from the naturally occurring populations which are, generally not consistent in psoralen content. Presently, the demand for high psoralen (> 1.0 per cent) containing genotypes has increased for their use in drug formulations by the pharmaceutical industries.
Thirty eight accessions of Babchi collected from the naturally occurring populations in southern hilly tracts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and parts of central India, were characterized for various agro-morphological and phyto-chemical parameters. Based on preliminary evaluation, ten accessions were identified as promising accessions having high seed yield coupled with high psoralen content (around 1.0 per cent). The promising accessions were further evaluated for seed parameters like cotyledons (%), seed coat (%), seed coat- cotyledons ratio etc.; and then whole seeds, seed cotyledons and seed coat were analyzed for psoralen content using gravimetric method. The superiority of accession, 1C 111251 has been observed for having higher psoralen content (1.34 per cent) coupled with higher psoralen yield (8.68 kg/ha) as compared to other accessions.The higher psoralen content in IC 111251 is due to higher percentage of cotyledons (64.78) followed by higher proportion of psoralen localized in seed cotyledons (0.84) as compared to seed coat (0.16).The germplasm accession, IC 111251, has been registered as unique germplasm by the Plant Germplasm Registration Committee of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research vide Registration No. INGR. 08054.
