Assessment of antibacterial activity and cytotoxic effects of in vitro and in vivo plant parts of a medicinal plant Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr

The goal of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of both the in vitro and in vivo plant part extracts of the medicinal plant Gynura procumbens. An effective protocol for regeneration and callus formation was developed using nodal segments and regenerated leaf explants, respectively. The highest fresh and dry weight calli were produced after four weeks of culture on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 2.0 mg/L BAP and 2.0 mg/L NAA, while the most shoots were produced on MS medium containing 1.0 mg/L BAP and 0.5 mg/L IAA. The in vitro shoots developed roots on MS media with 0.1 mg/L IBA. The antibacterial activity of extracts against various bacteria was examined to determine their significance (p < 0.05). The least significant difference (LSD) test results showed that the regenerated leaf extract had the highest antibacterial activity while the callus extract had the lowest. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were also established. Regenerated leaf extract had the highest toxicity and the lowest lethal concentration (LC50) value (1.21 ± 0.03 μg/mL) in a brine shrimp lethality bioassay. In contrast, callus extract had the lowest toxicity and the highest LC50 (11.09 ± 0.4 μg/mL). In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity test results revealed that the callus and field leaf extracts had anti-cell-proliferative properties. The regenerated leaf and stem extract, however, could induce cell growth.

Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Capacity, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activity in Callus, Somaclonal Variant, and Normal Green Shoot Tissues of Catharanthus roseus (L) G. Don

This study aimed to investigate the impact of plant growth regulators, sucrose concentration, and the number of subcultures on axillary shoot multiplication, in vitro flowering, and somaclonal variation and to assess the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and enzyme inhibitory potential of in vitro-established callus, somaclonal variant, and normal green shoots of Catharanthus roseus. The highest shoot induction rate (95.8%) and highest number of shoots (23.6), with a mean length of 4.5 cm, were attained when the C. roseus nodal explants (0.6-1 cm in length) were cultivated in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 2 µM thidiazuron, 1 µM 2-(1-naphthyl) acetic acid (NAA), and 4% sucrose. The in vitro flowering of C. roseus was affected by sucrose, and the number of subcultures had a significant effect on shoot multiplication and somaclonal variation. The highest levels of phenolics and flavonoids were found in normal green shoots, followed by those in somaclonal variant shoots and callus. The phytochemicals in C. roseus extracts were qualified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 39, 55, and 59 compounds were identified in the callus, somaclonal variant shoot, and normal green shoot tissues, respectively. The normal green shoot extracts exhibited the best free radical scavenging ability and reducing power activity. The strongest acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effects were found in the callus, with an IC50 of 0.65 mg/mL.

Biotechnological advancements in Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don, also known as Madagascar periwinkle or Sadabahar, is a herbaceous plant belonging to the family Apocynaceae. Being a reservoir for more than 200 alkaloids, it reserves a place for itself in the list of important medicinal plants. Secondary metabolites are present in its leaves (e.g., vindoline, vinblastine, catharanthine, and vincristine) as well as basal stem and roots (e.g., ajmalicine, reserpine, serpentine, horhammericine, tabersonine, leurosine, catharanthine, lochnerine, and vindoline). Two of its alkaloids, vincristine and vinblastine (possessing anticancerous properties), are being used copiously in pharmaceutical industries. Till date, arrays of reports are available on in vitro biotechnological improvements of C. roseus. The present review article concentrates chiefly on various biotechnological advancements based on plant tissue culture techniques of the last three decades, for instance, regeneration via direct and indirect organogenesis, somatic embryogenesis, secondary metabolite production, synthetic seed production, clonal fidelity assessment, polyploidization, genetic transformation, and nanotechnology. It also portrays the importance of various factors influencing the success of in vitro biotechnological interventions in Catharanthus and further addresses several shortcomings that can be further explored to create a platform for upcoming innovative approaches. KEY POINTS: • C. roseus yields anticancerous vincristine and vinblastine used in pharma industry. •In vitro biotechnological interventions prompted major genetic advancements. • This review provides an insight on in vitro-based research achievements till date. • Key bottlenecks and prospective research methodologies have been identified herein.

Effect of growth regulator in micropropagation of Catharanthus roses in vitro

The experiment was carried out in the plant tissue culture laboratory of the Horticulture and landscape department – College of Agriculture University of Kerbela during 2017-2018 to investigate the effect of growth regulators in the micropropagation of the Catharanthus roseus iv vitro. The culture of the branches of the Catharanthus roseus plants were obtained by cultivating the shoot tips of the branches of 1 cm length obtained from the developing plants growing in the field. After sterilization and culturing on MS medium supplied with different concentrations (0, 1, 2 and 3) of BA and Kin in separate experiment with steady concentration of 0.5 mg / l of IAA. The results showed a difference in the rate of studied characters according to the type and concentration of cytokines used. The BA in the concentration of 3 mg / L results were significantly higher in the studied traits, including the number and length of the vegetative branches and the soft and dry weight of the vegetative system, it achieved a rate of (21.66 branch / plantlet, 7.00 cm, 1.40 g, 0.71 g) respectively, while the Kin at the same concentration achieved the highest rate of studied traits of (15.66 branch / plantlet, 5.66 cm, 0.93 g, 0.40 g) respectively. The results of the study also showed a difference in the rate of studied traits, which included the number and length of roots and the soft and dry weight of the root total, depending on the type and concentration of auxien used. The IBA result was superior at 1.5 mg / L and with a constant concentration of 0.5 mg / l BA in achieving the highest rate of (36.33 root / shoot, 6.43 cm, 0.35 g, 0.23 g) respectively, while the NAA at the same concentration achieved the highest rate of studied traits (22.00 root / plant fraction, 2.53 cm, 0.21 g, 0.12 g), respectively, and the percentage of success of acclimation plants was 90%.

Preliminary Screening of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities and Establishment of an Efficient Callus Induction in Curculigo latifolia Dryand (Lemba)

Leaf, seed, and tuber explants of C. latifolia were inoculated on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of BAP and IBA, alone or in combinations, to achieve in vitro plant regeneration. Subsequently, antioxidant and antibacterial activities were determined from in vitro and in vivo plant developed. No response was observed from seed culture on MS media with various concentrations of PGRs. The highest percentage of callus was observed on tuber explants (94%) and leaf explants (89%) when cultured on MS media supplemented with IBA in combination with BAP. A maximum of 88% shoots per tuber explant, with a mean number of shoots (8.8 ± 1.0), were obtained on MS medium supplemented with combinations of BAP and IBA (2.5 mg L⁻¹). The best root induction (92%) and mean number (7.6 ± 0.5) from tuber explants were recorded on 2.5 mg L⁻¹ IBA alone supplemented to MS medium. The higher antioxidant content (80%) was observed from in vivo tuber. However, tuber part from the intact plant showed higher inhibition zone in antibacterial activity compared to other in vitro and in vivo tested parts.