Optimization of Tissue Culture Conditions for the Propagation of Rhodiola Imbricata Edgew

Abstract

Rhodiola imbricata Edgew. is a perennial herb of the family Crassulaceae, found in extreme Himalayan region at an altitude of 4000–5000 m. It is also available in border regions of Leh – Ladakh, China and Tibet. R. imbricata has been used extensively for its medicinal properties in traditional folk medicine in China, Tibet, Mongolia and the former Soviet Republics to increase physical endurance, work productivity, longevity and to treat fatigue, asthma, haemorrhage, impotence and gastrointestinal ailments. It also possess various pharmacological activities like hepatoprotective, radioprotective, cytoprotective, wound healing, Immunomodulatory, anti-fatigue, neuroprotective, anticancerous etc., which is due to the presence of various phytochemicals such as flavonoids, coumarins and phenyl glycosides (p-tyrosol, salidroside, rosavin and rosin). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on micropropagation of R. imbricata. In this study, 10 different media combinations having different concentrations of IBA, KN, BAP, GA3 and TDZ were tested for in vitro multiplication from different explants. Results revealed that MS media supplemented with BAP (1 mg/L) + IBA (2 mg/L) was found to be best for callus initiation, indirect shoot regeneration, while the best direct shoot organogenesis and multiplication was achieved in MS media having BAP (1 mg/L) + KN (2 mg/L) under optimized tissue culture conditions. MS media supplemented with BAP (2 mg/L) + IBA (4 mg/L) was found to be best for root initiation. Therefore, this study will provide a platform to meet high demand of raw material worldwide.