Sumita Dasgupta and M. N. Reddy
Plumbago zeylanica Linn. also known as ‘Chitrak’ belongs to the family Plumbaginaceae. Medicinally the most valued part of the plant Plumbago is its root. The roots have potential pharmacological activities and are widely used medicinally. The aim of the present study was to standardize a protocol for rapid, direct adventitious root induction and proliferation of Plumbago zeylanica, so that well developed roots suitable for medicinal uses are obtained within short time. Roots were directly induced from leaves, internodes and nodal explants on media supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of Plant Growth regulators. Media supplemented with Napthylacetic acid and Kinetin was found to be most effective in direct root induction. The in vitro induced roots were multiplied on suitable media. The roots showed best multiplication on ½ strength M.S. medium supplemented with 0.5mg/L Indole-3- butyric acid. The roots were compared with authenticated root sample via High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography. The components showed good separation on solvent system consisting of Toluene: Glacial acetic acid (9.5: 0.5). The profile of the in vitro induced root sample was found to be matching with that of authenticated root sample
