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.
Keywords: Acclimatization, Catharanthus roseus, In vitro Studies, Micropropagation, Organogenesis, Plant Regeneration, Somatic Embryogenesis.
