THE COMPOSITION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SEED OIL OF Celastrus paniculatus GERMPLASM

Abstract

Jyotishmati (Celastrus paniculatus) is a large deciduous climber, occurring in
sub-Himalayan tracts upto 2000 m in Central India, Western Ghats, Eastern
Ghats, extending to Rajmahal hills in Bihar and Orissa upto 1500melevation. This
hardy species attains plant height upto 18 m in mountain tracts and crevices of
rocks and along the bridle paths in the deciduous forests. Its fruit is globular in
shape, containing 3 to 6 seeds, enclosed in an orange red aril. The seed and seed-oil
are stimulant, nervine tonic and sharpen memory and therefore, is widely used in
medicine (Nadkarni, 1976). Germplasm collection from the hills of Uttar Pradesh
was made for identification ofsuperior genotypes in yield and physiologically active
terpenic alkaloids, mainly 'celapanin' and 'celapanigin' (Wagner et al., 1974). Its
cultivation is expected to meet increasing demand ofthe seed oil in pharmaceutical
industry