In vitro conservation and enhanced production of bioactive compounds with high medicinal efficacy from Withania coagulans L Dunal

Abstract

Withania coagulans (L.) Dunal (n=24) a dicotyledonous aromatic undershrub of the family Solanaceae is of considerable economic importance on account of being the known source of withanolides. W. coagulans also enjoys the distinction of a taxon possessing anti-diabetic secondary metabolites and is mentioned as Rishyagandha in Ayurvedic literature. It is commonly known as Vegetable rennet, Punir bundh and Indian cheese maker due to its milk coagulating property. The plant is perennial occurring in temperate and tropical regions of Asia, mainly in sandy alkaline soil with dry- hot climatic conditions. Apart from high hypo-glycaemic activity, it is also having an indispensable role as anti-cancerous, anti-lipidemic, anti-microbial, and immunosuppressive agents. In traditional medicinal system, it is used for the treatment of tooth ache, snake bite, asthma, ulcer, nervous exhaustion, rheumatism and degenerative diseases. Although, the bioactive components of this plant were discovered several years ago and occur in very low concentration in the plant, but they are still considered to be among the effective anti-diabetic agent. Considerable efforts are being made to improve the secondary metabolites production in this plant with utilizing cell and tissue culture. Since secondary metabolites in general appear to protect plants against various physical, biotic and abiotic stresses, therefore their formation may also be influenced by various external factors. To increase the production rate, it is necessary to conserve and multiply the germplasm of this plant species for commercial applications. newline