Use of HPTLC to Establish the Chemotype of a Parasitic Plant, Dendrophthoe falcata (Linn. f.) Etting. (Loranthaceae), Growing on Different Substrates

Dendrophthoe falcata (Linn. E) Etting. is a stem parasite commonly known as Vanda' in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. HPTLC has been used to detect the chemotypes of D. falcata growing on Mangifera indica Linn., Melia azedarach Linn., Wrightia tinctoria R. Br., and Callistemon lanceolatus DC. Phenolic compounds were selected as markers for this study. HPTLC results revealed qualitative and quantitative variations in the phenolic compounds in the leaves. Caffeic acid, (+)-epicatechin, and kaempferol were present in all four samples although the quantities varied from sample to sample. In contrast, ellagic acid was present only in the sample growing on Mangifera indica and gallic acid was absent only from the sample growing on the tree Melia azedarach. This variation in the phenolic compounds in these samples might be because of interaction with the host trees.