The effect of water availability on growth and saponin content of Talinum paniculatum Gaertn.

Abstract

Abstract. Talinum paniculatum Gaertn. known as “ginseng jawa,” is one of the medicinal plants which has an important role as an aphrodisiac. The plant contains several active substances (secondary metabolites): saponin, alkaloid, essential oil, resin, tannin, flavonoid, glycoside, and sterol. This research aimed to know the effect of water availability on the growth and saponin content of T. paniculatum. The experiment was installed as a completely randomized design, with one treatment and 5 replicates. The drought condition was be indicated with water availability of media on 4 levels: 40% field capacity (drought/temporary wilting point), 60% field capacity, 80% field capacity, and 100% field capacity (waterlogged). The plants were being grown in the greenhouse. The result of the research indicated that the growth of T. paniculatum was be inhibited by drought conditions. The lower water availability had impacted, the lower growth parameters (dry weight, water use efficiency, relative growth rate), but the lower the water availability, the higher the saponin content. The drought condition (40% field capacity) had resulted in the highest saponin content. The waterlogged condition (100% field capacity) had resulted in the lowest saponin content.