In vitro studies on growth and morphogenesis of Cardiospermum halicacabum L. and Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.

Abstract

Medicinal plants continue to be an important source of life-saving drugs for human kind, especially in the developing countries. There are many regions of the world which supply the bulk of current global demand for natural medicines albeit with increasing threat to their population in the world and its genetic diversity. Demand for medicinal plants is increasing and this leads to unprincipled collection from the wild and adulteration of supplies. Subsequent global inclination to herbal medicines has advanced the expansion of plant based pharmaceutical industries. Confronted by such unprecedented genetic erosion and disappearance of species and ecosystems, conservation of natural resources assumes paramount urgency. Thus, utilizing the biotechnological approaches to complement the existing procedures of conservation is becoming vital. Propagating biotechnology tools in conservation programmes is a prerequisite to succeed in sustainable use and to harmonize the existing ex situ measures. The present analysis was aimed to develop efficient protocol for conservation and mass propagation of two important plant species namely (1) Cardiospermum halicacabum and (2) Nyctanthes arbor-tristis using tissue culture methods. Changes in photosynthetic parameters and antioxidative enzymes were also measured during the ex vitro acclimatization of micropropagated plantlets. Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Cardiospermum halicacabum L. (Sapindaceae), commonly known as Balloon vine or Heart pea, is a herbaceous medicinal climber with large ornamental seed pods or inflated capsules that resembles balloons, widely distributed throughout Africa and Asia. The most common medicinal use of balloon vine is for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The plant has been widely used for curing asthma, piles, diarrhoea, earache, fever and various nervous diseases. The whole plant extract has been widely used for reducing the hardened tumors and as a sedative for CNS activities.