Abstract:
Gymnema sylvestre is a slow growing perennial medicinal woody climber. It
belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae. Gymnemic acid, the major bioactive
component of this plant species is used as a remedy for type II diabetes.
Propagation of this plant is often difficult and expensive. In the present study, in
vitro protocols were developed in order to induce callus and regenerate plantlets
from different explants of G. sylverstre. As secondary metabolites are important
in medicinal plants, studies were carried out to screen phytochemicals present in
natural plants and callus. The best medium for callus induction from leaf discs
was MS supplemented with 5.0 mg/l 2,4‐D. Although, nodal segment grown in
MS supplemented with 1.0 mg/l BA gave the highest shoot elongation (14.8 ±
0.20), growth regulator free MS also showed a high elongation of shoots (14.2 ±
0.37) and the difference between those two were non‐significant. MS
supplemented with 3.0 mg/l IBA was best for root induction. Highest survival
percentage (62.5) was observed when plantlets were acclimated in a substrate
containing a mixture of soil and sand in the proportion of 1 : 2. In the present
study, phytochemicals present in callus and the leaves of the naturally grown
plants were compared using Gas Chromatography‐ Mass Spectrophotometer. A
total of nine compounds was identified from the leaves of naturally grown plants
and nine compounds were identified from the callus. Out of all identified
phytochemicals, a total of six compounds were present in both leaves and callus
samples suggesting that in addition the plant material, callus may also be used
as a supplement raw material to obtain secondary metabolites for the
pharmaceutical industry.
