We have already discussed about this plant (in Feb'10), and its id is also established few years back by Dr.Narasimhan. Please check this link: https://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/92ac7bc2091f065/fadcb1e29afbcc21?hl=en&lnk=gst&q=ramkand#fadcb1e29afbcc21
I am glad that it has now been published with a scientific evidence. Regards Vijayasankar Raman National Center for Natural Products Research University of Mississippi On Wed, May 11, 2011 at 6:15 AM, Mahadeswara <[email protected]> wrote: > Very valuable and useful info. Thanks for sharing. > > On May 11, 2:10 pm, Satish Phadke <[email protected]> wrote: > > The link may not work so I have copied the contents of an article related > to > > one interesting plant we had discussed earlier. I think Pankaj Oudhia ji > has > > more knowledge on this. > http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIPU&showST=... > > > > http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=... > > > > Dr Phadke Satish > > > > Green group conducts DNA barcoding of Ramkand Kalyani Sardesai TNN > > > > Pune: Sahyadri Genes, a Kolhapur-based environmentalcum-research group, > and > > the department of botany, Shivaji University, have carried out DNA > barcoding > > of the Ramkand plant, which, according to popular legend, was consumed by > > Lord Rama while in exile. > > The study, which establishes that the plant is a monocot and not a > > tuber, has been published in the recent issue of ‘Current Science’. > > Speaking to TOI, Mansingraj Nimbalkar, president, Sahyadri Genes, > said, > > “For several years, the exact identity of Ramkand has remained a mystery > for > > both plant researchers and students. Though the tuber is being sold for > > several years, especially at places of pilgrimage, its source is one of > the > > best kept secrets by vendors. The name and information provided by > vendors > > give an impression that the tuber was eaten by Lord Rama during his days > of > > exile. Previous efforts to identify the plant have proved unsuccessful. > The > > only material available for study are the thin slices sold by vendors.” > > During the study, the team initially found it difficult to establish > its > > identity as a monocot. “Though the anatomical study showed a cell > structure > > typical to the monocot, it only confused us further. This is because, > > monocots have adventitious roots and not a tap root.” > > The DNA was extracted from the slices obtained from a vendor at > Jyotiba > > hill temple at Wadi Ratnagiri in Kolhapur district. The slices were > > approximately 4.5 inches in size and two to three mm in thickness. > > The sequence was used to find similarities with the other submitted > > sequences. The search showed that the sequence was 89 per cent similar to > > the Agave sisalana — a monocot. > > “To confirm this further, we checked more plants of the Agave genus. > The > > leaves enclosing the rosette and juvenile inflorescence (soft middle > portion > > of the plant) were removed, which exposed the core of the rosette. The > core > > was soft and similar in dimension to that of the Ramkand plant,” said G B > > Dikshit, professor, department of botany, Shivaji University. > > Taxonomist S R Yadav explained the significance of the DNA barcoding. > > “It is a major step forward as the plant has proved to be difficult to > > place. Over the last 25 years, I have approached leading botanists in the > > country to help me identify the Ramkand, but they could not,” he said. > > Moreover, the study dispels the myth about the plant being a tuber. > “The > > origin of the plant is being carefully concealed by vendors, but Ramkand, > > which is sold to devotees in the name of Lord Rama, is actually not > > recommended for human consumption. In fact, it can prove to be > poisonous,” > > he said. > > “One variety of the Agave genus is used to make a syrup for diabetic > > patients, but, by and large, the species are not meant to be eaten. Since > it > > is sold in thin slices and people consume it in small quantities, it may > not > > have had any noticeable after-effects. But it is important that people > know > > the facts,” Yadav said. > > > > The Ramkand plant >
