An Overview of Pharmaceutical Applications and In vitro Micropropagation Techniques for Rare and Endangered Plant Species
P. Sivakumar
*
Dr. M. S. Swaminathan Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Eachangkottai, Thanjavur-614902, Tamil Nadu, India.
M. Chitra
Dr. M. S. Swaminathan Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Eachangkottai, Thanjavur-614902, Tamil Nadu, India.
K. Sasikala
Dr. M. S. Swaminathan Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Eachangkottai, Thanjavur-614902, Tamil Nadu, India.
M. Selvamurugan
Horticultural College and Research Institute for Women, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Navalur Kuttapattu, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
V. Karunakaran
ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Needamagalam, Thiruvarur- 614404, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Many rare and endangered plant species possess valuable secondary metabolites with pharmacological applications. These bioactive compounds are often integral to traditional medicine systems, highlighting the cultural significance of these plants. The health benefits of many medicinal species are not fully validated by contemporary scientific research, and some may be facing extinction due to habitat loss, overharvesting or climate change. This situation highlights the urgent need for effective conservation strategies of the species and sustainable cultivation methods. Micropropagation is a valuable technique for producing large numbers of plants from a single explant, significantly aiding in the conservation and commercial cultivation of rare species. Among the various types of explants, shoot tips and nodal segments have been identified as the most effective explants for micropropagation. These explants can be induced to generate multiple shoots in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing Benzyl aminopurine (BAP). Thidiazuron (TDZ), Kinetin (KIN), or 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) are commonly used in MS medium to promote shoot and root development in both direct and indirect organogenesis processes. Rooting of the plantlets was typically achieved using MS medium either supplemented with Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or devoid of auxins, depending on the species and the specific requirements for rooting.
Keywords: Endangered species, medicinal plants, micropropagation, pharmacological uses