STM Journals Peer-reviewed research from Consortium e-Learning Network

Research & Reviews: A Journal of Drug Design & Discovery

A Review on Biotechnological Aspects of Conservation and Enhancements of Indian Snakeroot (Rauwolfia serpentina)

  1. Arnav walia
  2. Rahul Pandey

Abstract

Indian snakeroot (Rauwolfia serpentina) is one of the most important medicinal plants found in the Indian subcontinent, used in the treatment of various types of diseases. Recently it has been considered as a critically endangered plant by the International Union of the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) due to its heavy exploitation in the past. The plant has a high demand in the international market due to its medicinal properties and abundance of phytochemicals, which means it is necessary to save it from extinction as well as to improve the quality and quantity of the phytochemicals produced by the plant. Indian snakeroot has an abundance of an indole alkaloid–reserpine which can cure hypertension and other mental disorders, some more phytochemicals can be found in the plant but very low concentration. In-vitro micropropagation methods could be a solution for this problem, it could be effectively used in stabilizing the population of the plant as well as. The review is mainly focused on a study of pharmacological aspects of Indian snakeroot, and the biotechnological methods for conservation and enhancements of some endangered medicinal plants.

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