Abstract
Selaginella tamariscina is a medicinal plant that contains a variety of plant secondary metabolites; however, it is currently being collected indiscriminately from its native habitats. Hence, we have developed an efficient propagation method for S. tamariscina. Explants grown in vitro were cultured in Murashige and Skoog medium of various strengths (1/16–2x), and the highest number of sporophytes (65.7) were obtained with 1/4x MS medium. Culturing explants at various lengths (3–12 mm) for 12 weeks indicated 12 mm as the most appropriate size for sporophyte propagation. We then evaluated various concentrations of individual components, sucrose (0–5%), total nitrogen (7.5–30 mM), nitrogen ratio (3:0–0:3), and agar (0.6–0.8%), in the 1/4x MS medium for explant growth for 12 weeks. The maximum number of sporophytes were formed in media containing 3% sucrose, 15 mM nitrogen, and 0.6% agar, with a nitrogen ratio of 1:2. The propagated S. tamariscina was then acclimatized in a controlled environment to improve survival in an external environment. These results demonstrate the effective conditions for in vitro mass propagation of S. tamariscina, finding that methods utilizing sporophytes were more efficient than conventional propagation methods and yielded numerous plants in a short period.
Highlights
Selaginella is a representative medicinal fern that contains large amounts of beneficial compounds and various natural substances, such as alkaloids, phenols, and terpenoids [1]
33.5 sporophytes were formed in medium containing 7.5 mM nitrogen, and 10.5 sporophytes were formed at 30 mM nitrogen
We showed that S. tamariscina was able to proliferate using shoots formed in vitro, and that multiple shoots were formed from shoot tips to allow the formation of numerous sporophytes (Figure 3)
Summary
Selaginella is a representative medicinal fern that contains large amounts of beneficial compounds and various natural substances, such as alkaloids, phenols, and terpenoids [1]. A biflavonoid extracted from Selaginella moellendorffii, induces apoptosis in cancer cells and exhibits anticancer effects [2,3]. Biflavonoids extracted from Selaginella willdenowii and Selaginella delicatula effectively inhibit tumor cell growth [4,5]. Various components and functions have been reported in many Selaginella species [6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. Selaginella tamariscina (P.Beauv.) Spring has long been used as a folk remedy in Korea for maintaining hemostasis and improving blood circulation, menstrual irregularity, dysmenorrhea, contusions, and extravasated blood [15]. Apigenin, hinokiflavone, isocryptomerin, sumaflavone, robustaflavone, and tannin, which show efficacy in treating throat, lung, cervical, mammary, skin, kidney, gastric, rectal, and liver cancers [16,17,18,19]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
