In Vitro Protocols for Micropropagation of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don

Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus) is an important alkaloid-yielding medicinal and ornamental plant belonging to the family Apocynaceae. The genus Catharanthus is well studied and reported to contain biologically active terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) with over 130 compounds isolated and identified. It has great medicinal importance in treating various ailments to treat diseases as diabetes, malaria, menorrhagia, Hodgkin’s disease, etc. In view of the immense importance in the pharmaceutical industry, micropropagation of C. roseus has been the best alternative for continuous source of plants and also for in vitro production of secondary metabolites. Various explants have been studied for micropropagation; however, nodal explants were the most suitable. For surface sterilization, 0.1% HgCl2 or 70% ethanol, followed by sodium hypochlorite and Bavistin (carbendazim), was optimum to control the microbial contamination. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was the most widely used for its success rate. 2,4-D for callus initiation and BAP, along with zeatin and activated charcoal, were reported to be promising for regeneration of plantlets. The 100% acclimatization of plantlets on transfer to field depends on the soil mixture and environmental conditions and humidity in the initial stages of transfer from in vitro cultures.