A Review of Tissue Culture Studies on Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal - An Important Medicinal Plant

Withania somnifera, commonly known as 'Indian ginseng', is a highly important and valuable medicinal plant in traditional family medicine, containing a variety of medicinal bioactive molecules for over 3,000 years. Various medicinal properties of plants are attributed to steroidal lactones (withanolides) present in plants. Its commercial cultivation is hampered by low seed viability and germination rates. Tissue culture techniques can play an important role in the preservation, clonal propagation, and qualitative improvement of this medicinal plant. In vitro shoot differentiation and micropropagation of W. somnifera from various small excised explants such as hypocotyl and cotyledon leaves, shoot tips, nodes and internodes. Optimal normal growth, reproduction, and development of W. somnifera through the in vitro processes of morphogenesis of many tissues may differ in several different plants based on key plant nutrient requirements. The current review provides a comprehensive study on the development of W. somnifera tissue culture research activity. It also discusses the medicinal properties of this plant.

Keywords: Withania somnifera, Micropropagation, Tissue culture, In vitro propagation.