In Vitro Propagation of Plumbago spp.- an important medicinal plant

Since the very beginning of human civilization, man has always been dependent on plant kingdom for his major needs, which include food, medicine, clothing and shelter. Medicinal plants continue to provide health security to rural people throughout the globe. Due to rapid industrialization in the country, there has been a remarkable development of pharmaceutical industry for production of intermediates and formulations. The increasing demand for raw materials has led to the indiscriminate exploitation of medicinal plants by traders with the result that many plant species have become rare and some are facing extinction. Plumbago species belong to the family Plumbaginaceae and used against diseases of the skin and in rheumatism and paralytic affections. The leaves are caustic, vesicant, aphrodisiac; good for scabies. The root bark is used in indigenous drug. The root is a chief source of alkaloid, Plumbagin having anticancer, antibacterial and antifungal properties. In this study attempts have been made for mass cloning of Plumbago species.