Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res., 39(1), July – August 2016; Article No. 49, Pages: 248-250 ISSN 0976 – 044X International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research Available online at www.globalresearchonline.net © Copyright protected. Unauthorised republication, reproduction, distribution, dissemination and copying of this document in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. 248 Geetika Singh*, Richa, M.L Sharma Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. *Corresponding author’s E-mail: geetika_phd@yahoo.com Accepted on: 18-05-2016; Finalized on: 30-06-2016. ABSTRACT Bamboos popularly known as green gold is sufficiently cheap and plentiful to meet the vast needs of people. It plays major role in the livelihood of rural people. Seeds of bamboos are viable hardly for few months so understanding the biochemical metabolites and its effect with ageing was main aim of research work. The aim of the study was to estimate primary metabolites i.e. sugars, phenols and amino acids and antioxidant ascorbic acid in Bambusa bambos, Dendrocalmus strictus and Dendrocalamus Hamiltonii and its effect with ageing under prolonged storage conditions. The highest amount of sugars (7.99 mg/gmfwt), phenols (7.53 mg/gmfwt) and amino acids(7.56 mg/gmfwt) found in Bambusa bambos at 48 hours analysis in 18 months interval and ascorbic acid content maximum in fresh seeds of Bambusa bambos (3.67 mg/gmfwt ) and its relationship of decrease in metabolites with the loss of viability with ageing after 18 months period. Keywords: Primary metabolites, Sugar, Phenols, amino acids, Ascorbic acid. INTRODUCTION amboos belongs to the most diverse group pf plants in the grass family. Bamboos are plants of global interest because of their distinctive life form, ecological importance and wide range of uses and values they have for humans 1 . There are more than 1500 different documented traditional uses of bamboo. In Asia, Bamboos are the essence of life for many communities and it is no exaggeration to speak of a Bamboo Civilization in the region. Bamboos can be propagated from rhizomes, culm or by multiplication of nursery raised seedlings. However seeds serve as best material for large scale plantations and germplasm conservation. But seeds have a very short viability of 1-2 months and therefore useful as propagules only for a short period of time. Seed quality is one of the factor for successful germination but its trait declines with ageing. So the present study was aimed at determining the biochemical primary metabolites in the three species of bamboo seeds i.e. Bambusa bambos, Dendrocalmus strictus and Dendrocalamus Hamiltonii and their effect with ageing after 18 months period and its loss of viability during storage for such long period. Seed deterioration is reported to accompany changes in hydrolytic enzymes as well 2 . It was studied the physiological and biochemical changes in Abelmoschus esculentes seeds of different ages and concluded that germination decreases with seed ageing 3 . MATERIALS AND METHODS For the quantitative estimation of primary metabolites, different protocols were used. 10 Seeds of each species i.e Dendrocalamus strictus, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii and Bambusa bambos which were stored in controlled conditions in desiccator at 4 degree Celsius were soaked and deglumed and weighed. Their homogenate was made in 10 ml of 80% ethanol using pestle and mortar with a pinch of acid washed sand. It was then centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes at room temperature. The supernatant was used for the analysis of amino acids, sugars, total phenols and ascorbic acid. For Estimation of Free Amino Acids 4 Using glycine as standard. To 0.5 ml of homogenate added 5 ml of ninhydrin reagent and shaken properly. Then the mixture was boiled for 10 minutes in water and cooled thereafter absorbance was recorded at 570 nm on spectrophotometer.Glycine was taken as standard amino acid. For Estimation of Total Sugars 5 To 4 ml of chilled anthrone reagent 0.1 ml of ethanol extract was added. Tubes were shaken gently to mix the solution. these were covered with glass marbles and placed in water bath and cooled in ice water. The absorbance of the blue green colored solution was taken at 625 nm in spectrophotometer against blank containing 80% ethanol extract. For Estimation of Total Phenols 6 To 1 gm of the seed material was extracted in 5ml of 0.3 N HCl in methanol. Centrifuge it, retain supernatant and repeat the extraction with residue. Pooled the two supernatant and evaporate them. Dissolve the residue in 5 ml distilled water. 0.1 ml of aliquot in each case was taken to make final volume of 7 ml of distilled water. Effect of Prolonged Storage on the Biochemical Constituents of Primary Metabolites in Three Species of Bamboo Seeds B Research Article