RESUMEN
Centella asiatica (Apiaceae family; Talapetraka in Malagasy) is a tropical and subtropical plant with leaves containing glycotriterpenoids (asiaticosides) used in traditional and modern medicine. C. asiatica is collected exclusively in natural stands. It is Madagascar's second most important indigenous plant export. The objective in this study is to provide data which will make it possible to optimize the harvest and thus effectively develop this resource. Two foliar morphotypes were identified: morphotype A with small reniform leaves (leaf area ca. 4.5 cm(2) ), found in the east of Madagascar, and morphotype B with large round leaves (up to 7.5 cm(2) ) found in the west, with sympatric zones in the central part of the island. Morphotype A produces a higher biomass, and is twice as rich in asiaticosides as morphotype B. Significant variations in biomass yield and asiaticoside content are observed depending on the date of collection: higher during the rainy season (December to April) and lower during the dry season (June to August). Inter-annual variations are also observed. Populations located at around 800-1400 m altitude on the eastern side of Madagascar, in a sub-humid climate, appeared to be more productive. These results provide more precise information to the economic sector, which confirms the empirical choices made by collectors. They represent the first elements towards sustainable management of the resource, and maybe even domestication.
Asunto(s)
Biomasa , Centella/química , Centella/clasificación , Ambiente , Hojas de la Planta/metabolismo , Triterpenos/metabolismo , MadagascarRESUMEN
Xanthones, and more specifically mangiferin, are molecules used in cosmetics for their photoprotective and anti-aging properties. The richness in xanthones of Aphloia theiformis leaves, a common shrub in Madagascar, can reach almost 12% (in relation to dry biomass). Amongst the A. theiformis studied, two major groups of individuals have been determined: those presenting a high proportion of mangiferin (up to 80% of the xanthones) and those presenting a high proportion of polar xanthones (not yet identified). Our study shows that: i) for each subject, the xanthone content remains stable over time (no seasonal variation); ii) the majority of the trees developing in the light belong to the first group (rich in mangiferin), whereas the individuals growing in the undergrowth are richer in polar xanthones; iii) the distribution of the two groups seems not to have any correlation with taxonomy and, moreover, with the known varieties of A. theiformis, although the micrantha variety is richer in mangiferin. Overall, this information indicates that A. theiformis is a reservoir of xanthones and makes it possible to define a framework for its reasoned management.