Abstract
Withania somnifera is a highly valued medicinal plant in traditional home medicine and is known for a wide range of bioactivities. Its commercial cultivation is adversely affected by poor seed viability and germination. Infestation by various pests and pathogens, survival under unfavourable environmental conditions, narrow genetic base, and meager information regarding biosynthesis of secondary metabolites are some of the other existing challenges in the crop. Biotechnological interventions through organ, tissue, and cell culture provide promising options for addressing some of these issues. In vitro propagation facilitates conservation and sustainable utilization of the existing germplasms and broadening the genetic base. It would also provide means for efficient and rapid mass propagation of elite chemotypes and generating uniform plant material round the year for experimentation and industrial applications. The potential of in vitro cell/organ cultures for the production of therapeutically valuable compounds and their large-scale production in bioreactors has received significant attention in recent years. In vitro culture system further provides distinct advantage for studying various cellular and molecular processes leading to secondary metabolite accumulation and their regulation. Engineering plants through genetic transformation and development of hairy root culture system are powerful strategies for modulation of secondary metabolites. The present review highlights the developments and sketches current scenario in this field.
Highlights
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal holds high repute in Indian, Greek, and African traditional system of medicine [1]
One of the major challenges in a medicinal plant like W. somnifera is to enhance the production of important secondary metabolites linked to human health
In vitro culture system offers an excellent tool to propagate the plants for rational scientific use and provides means to enhance its commercial value
Summary
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (family Solanaceae) holds high repute in Indian, Greek, and African traditional system of medicine [1]. The pharmacological activities are attributed to occurrence of diverse secondary metabolites which includes alkaloids, flavanol glycosides, glycowithanolides, steroidal lactones (withanolides), sterols, and phenolics [4,5,6]. The distribution of these pharmaceutically important metabolites is found in the aerial parts, roots, and berries of W. somnifera [2]. Chemical synthesis of withanolides is cumbersome and there is lack of information on biosynthesis and regulation of secondary metabolites In this regard, cell/organ cultures hold an immense potential for mass production of secondary metabolites. The objective of the present review is to highlight the biotechnological interventions to enhance the secondary metabolite production in W. somnifera
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