A Review On Evaluation Of Abiotic Stress Signals On Production Of Gymnemic Acid In In Vitro Cultures Of Gymnema Sylvestre R.Br

Naseeha C. P; Delse P. Sebastian

Abstract

The demand and market value of medicinal plants increases day by day. The raw materials for herbal medicine industry came from wild collections. Due to intense demand, natural populations are under stress and many species of medicinal plants became vulnerable. To overcome the issue new methods to conserve and propagate medicinal plants on large scale. In vitro propagation techniques are effective for the multiplication and conservation. Advantages like availability of plants in all seasons, production of uniform plants and accumulation of bio active compounds by inducing stress signals can be achieved through plant tissue culture. Gymnema Sylvvestre R. Br. is a perennial woody climber that belongs to the Asclepiedaceae family. The leaves and roots of the plant have medicinal properties and are used in the Ayurveda system of medicine to treat various diseases. Gymnema is wildly used for the treatment of diabetes. The plant has antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It also used in the treatment of obesity, arthritis, hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia. The major secondary metabolite in Gymnema is a group of nine related acidic glycosides. The main metabolite is gymnemic acid A-D and is present in all parts of the plant. The accumulation of metabolites often happens in plants that are exposed to various stresses, including various elicitors (signs) or signal molecules. The exposure to various stresses (nutrient stress, half-strength media, pH 4.5-6.0) and various growth regulators, etc.) causes many common reactions and have an effect on the accumulation of secondary metabolites. The optimised stressed conditions can be standardized for increased or improved bioactive compound formation in vitro.