Quantitation of Principal Bufadienolides in Different Cytotypes of Urginea indica

Roots of URGINEA INDICA K UNTH, (Liliaceae) Indian squill, contain high amounts of proscillardin A and scillaren A. The range of variation in proscillaridin A and scillaren A contents in bulbs is 0.004-0.26% in diploids, 0.04-0.07% in triploids and 0.02-0.45% in tetraploids. The relative proportion of proscillaridin A and scillaren A also varies in different cytotypes. A tetraploid cytotype, representing a high yielding strain which can be exploited commercially for better yield of cardiac glycosides, has been obtained from Pune.