Phytochemical investigations in South Indian species of Ipomoea Linn.

Biochemical parameters such as presence of alkaloid and quantity of protein and carbohydrate act as remarkable markers for identification of genera and species. In the present investigation phytochemical features such as quantity of protein, carbohydrates and qualitative characterization of ergoline alkaloid derivatives such as D-lysergic acid diethyl amide and elymoclavine by thin layer chromatography have been carried out for 16 South Indian species of Ipomoea. It is borne out that majority of the species studied have high amount of protein, carbohydrate and presence of ergoline derivatives such as elymoclavine and D-lysergic acid diethyl amide.