Plant tissue culture based strategies for production of withanolides

Abstract

Withania somnifera, an "Indian Ginseng", is a medicinal plant of high value having rejuvenating and health promoting effects. It possesses biologically active metabolites called withanolides that are present in the leaves and roots of the plant. Withanolide A and withaferin A are the major secondary metabolites demonstrated to possess specific therapeutic properties and pharmacological activities. Commercial withanolide production largely depends on the field plants, but there is quality concern due to different biotic and abiotic factors. In vitro cell culture technology can be an evident approach to an increased production of these plant secondary metabolites. Withanolides, the naturally occurring and abundant plant secondary metabolites isolated from solanaceous plants are well known to be one of the most powerful herbs in Ayurv edic medicine. Withanolides have been reported to possess diverse pharmacological functions such as being anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, cardio-protective and neuro-protective, immune- modulatory, insecticidal and more. With the plant being predominantly spread and thriving in temperate and tropical regions around the world, increasing varieties of withanolides are being characterized over the years recently and probing into their mechanism of actions and functions continues.