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Summary. Rhizome extracts of Hedychium coronarium are widely used as phytotherapeutics. As of date, there is no documented study on the standardization of H. coronarium extract, and the following research is an effort in this direction. Coronarin D is an important bioactive compound present in H. coronarium which shows chemopreventive activity against cancer. H. coronarium extracts were assessed for coronarin D content for the first time. The extraction was checked using different solvents: n-hexane, acetone, and methanol. Coronarin D was separated on silica gel 60F 254 high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) plates by isocratic gradient method using n-hexane-ethyl acetate (80:20 v/v) as mobile phase. Densitometric quantification was performed at 231 nm in absorption mode. This method gave a well-defined peak at R f 0.20 corresponding to coronarin D. The method was validated using International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines in terms of precision, repeatability, and accuracy. Linearity range of coronarin D was 200-1000 ng spot −1 with a correlation coefficient of R 2 ± SD = 0.9987 ± 2.62% in the concentration range of 200-1000 ng spot −1 . The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were found to be 35 and 115 ng, respectively. Accuracy of the method was checked by recovery studies conducted at three different concentration levels, and the average percentage recovery was found to be 98.22 % for coronarin D. Among the different solvents, acetone produced maximum extraction efficiency of coronarin D. The proposed HPTLC method can be applied for robust identification and quantitative determination of coronarin D in H. coronarium extracts.

A simple protocol was developed for in vitro clonal propagation by multiple shoot induction of Plumbago zeylanica L., a plant having high medicinal values. Root of P. zeylanica is widely used as a traditional medicine. The plant is very popular to different pharmaceutical industry and is mainly harvested from the natural habits. Population growth, urbanization and the unrestricted collection of these plants from the wild population is resulting in an over-exploitation of natural habits. To cope up this alarming situation and to ensure its sustainability, plant tissue culture technique was applied. Micropropagation methodology is a potent alternative approach which has opened extensive areas of research for biodiversity conservation. High fre quencies of multiple shoot regeneration (10 to 12 shoots explant -1 ) were achieved from P. zeylanica from nodal explant on to MS medium fortified with 2.0 mg l -1 BAP and 0.2 mg l -1 NAA. MS medium along with 1.0 mg l -1 BAP and 0.2 mg l -1 GA 3 showed the highest shoot elongation. The elongated shoots were subcultured for rooting on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l -1 IBA. The survival rate of 95% in vitro raised plantlets were acclimatized in poly greenhouse and successfully transplanted to natural condition. In vitro conservation was also evaluated by supplementing various osmotic agents. For in vitro mid-term conservation, the complete plantlets were maintained healthy condition upto 10 months at 10 0 C without any subculture by using MS medium in combination with 2% manitol and 2% sorbitol. All regenerated plants are cytologically stable (2n=24), their chromosomal status same as source plant.

Well developed methods are presently available to help growers meet the demand of the pharmaceutical industry in the next century. Micropropagation of medicinal plants is extensively used to produce active compounds for herbal and pharmaceutical industries. Population growth, urbanization, climate change and unrestricted collection of medicinal plants from nature are resulting in an over- exploitation as well as habit destruction of wild resources of medicinal plants. Conservation of genetic materials of many vulnerable medicinal plants also involves culturing techniques. Micropropagation protocols have been developed for a wide range of medicinal plants, which includes endangered and vulnerable plant species. This review only describes the role of in vitro propagation techniques in medicinal plants.