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

Talinum paniculatum Gaertn. known as “ginseng jawa” is one of medicinal plant which has an important role as an aphrodisiac. The plant contains several active substances (secondary metabolites), there are saponin, alkaloid, essential oil, resin, tannin, flavonoid, glycoside, and sterol. The aims of this research were to know the effect of water availability on 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 level, that was 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 condition. The lower of water availability had impacted on the lower of growth parameters (dry weight, water use efficiency, relative growth rate), but oppositely, the lower of water availability, the higher of saponin content. The drought condition (40% field capacity) had resulted the highest saponin content. The waterlogged condition (100% field capacity) had resulted the lowest saponin content.