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Parthraj Kshirsagar1 Dnyanesh Chinte2 and Nikhil Gaikwad3*

1 Department of Botany, Shri. Shivaji College Barshi, Dist-Solapur (MS), India 2 Department of Zoology, S. M. Dnyandeo Mohekar College, Kalamb, Dist- Osmanabad (MS), India 3 Department of Botany, Shivaji University Kolhapur, Dist-Kolhapur (MS), India

Swertia is ethno-medicinally an important genus belonging to the family Gentianaceae. Swertia chirayita is used as an imperative medicinal plant in the Indian system of medicine. However, this species has been frequently adulterated due to its high demand and scarcity. Authentication of this species was needed to protect consumers and conservation measures and to find an alternative source. ITS region proves a robust molecular marker for differing the S. chirayita from its related adulterant species. All barcoding regions indicate that S. chirayita and S. minor both are more closely related than other Swertia species. Swertiamarin and mangiferin were estimated from different Swertia species and it was revealed that maximum swertiamarin and mangiferin content was found in S. chirayita, S. minor, and S. angustifolia species. Various extraction methods like static extraction (SE), continuous shaking extraction (CSE), and ultrasonic extraction (USE) were evaluated for increasing recovery % of swertiamarin and mangiferin from different Swertia species which revealed that SE was more proficient with 24 h extraction gave the maximum recovery in S. chirayita of swertiamarin (256.98 mg/g) and mangiferin (155.76 7.78 mg/g). In vitro production of swertiamarin from cell suspension cultures of S. minor was studied chitosan-treated (25ppm) cell biomass accumulated higher contents of swertiamarin than salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate. Findings showed that DNA barcoding is an efficient tool for the identification and authentication of S. chirayita. S. minoris remarkably the best match for S. chirayita as per molecular and phytochemical fingerprint is concerned, suggesting an alternative for chirayita. The described protocol can be effectively used for the large-scale propagation, and exploitation of active compounds and will serve as a potential alternative to S. chirayita for the fulfillment of over-growing industrial requirements.