Micropropagation and Biotechnological Interventions in Oldenlandia umbellata L.

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Oldenlandia umbellata is an important medicinal herb distributed in the tropics used in the formulation to treat asthma, bronchitis, bronchial catarrh, snake bite, and many infectious diseases. The mature roots of O. umbellata are also known as a source of the natural dye anthraquinone (AQ), the second largest group of textile dye. However, extraction of the dye contained in the roots of this plant may pose a threat to its survival in its natural habitat. This chapter explores the scope and relevance of micropropagation of medicinally and economically significant O. umbellata, thereby saving this species in the wild and scaling up dye production through in vitro means. In vitro propagation efforts of this herb were made through axillary bud proliferation using benzyl adenine and by adding an auxin transport inhibitor, quercetin. A somatic embryo-based propagation system was also established through an in vitro starvation method. Based on available methods, O. umbellata can be efficiently propagated and conserved superior germplasm by applying the most suitable in vitro propagation methods.