Tissue Culture Techniques and Medicinal Plants: Enhancing Propagation and Production

Nature is the most potent source of cure and care. With the advent of the ’herbal renaissance, ’ the dependence on medicinal plants has increased in all spheres ranging from their use as raw material for medicinal, nutraceutical, cosmetic preparations, and food. The tissue culture technique has proven to be extremely advantageous not only for large-scale propagation of medicinal plants in a limited space and time, but also for conservation, storage for prolonged use, genetic improvement, and metabolite production.

This book describes in detail the different methods of plant tissue culture that have been employed for the mass production of medicinal plants. The chapters on methods of organogenesis, embryogenesis, haploid plant production, virus-free medicinal plant production, and so forth will be of interest to a wide range of readers. Dedicated chapters on the tissue culture of high-altitude medicinal plants, cannabis and so on are some of the book’s highlights. The book also discusses the implementation of advanced biotechnological interventions such as the production of phytochemicals, cryopreservation, nanotechnology, and bioinformatics in medicinal plant studies.

With contributions from world-leading specialists in plant tissue culture, the knowledge presented in this book will aid in the translation of plant tissue culture techniques for the production and improvement of medicinal plants. The information presented has the potential to be utilized for commercial production and formulations.

Key features:

• Comprehensive guide for tissue culture systems as potential methods for the production of clones, new varieties, improved germplasms, haploids, and in vitro preservation of medicinal plants
• Elaborates on standardization of in vitro systems for propagation and transplantation of important medicinal plants and enhanced secondary metabolite production
• Enriches the understanding of advanced technologies like cryopreservation, bioinformatics, and nanotechnology in medicinal plants tissue culture

Azamal Husen is a Professor at Sankalchand Patel University, Visnagar, India; and Adjunct Professor at Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. He is also working as a Visiting Professor at University Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia; and acting as a Foreign Delegate at Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita, Ethiopia. Previously, he served as Professor and Head of the Department of Biology, University of Gondar, Ethiopia. He also worked as a Visiting Faculty of the Forest Research Institute and the Doon College of Agriculture and Forest at Dehra Dun, India. His research and teaching experience of 25 years encompasses biogenic nanomaterial fabrication and application; plant responses to nanomaterials; plant adaptation to harsh environments at the physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels; herbal medicine; and clonal propagation for improvement of tree species. He has conducted research sponsored by the World Bank, the National Agricultural Technology Project, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, the Indian Council of Forest Research Education, and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. Husen has published extensively ( 300) and served on the Editorial Board and as reviewer of reputed journals published by Elsevier, Frontiers Media, Taylor & Francis, Springer Nature, RSC, Oxford University Press, Sciendo, the Royal Society, CSIRO, PLOS, MDPI, John Wiley & Sons, and UPM Journals. He is on the advisory board of Cambridge Scholars Publishing, UK. He is a fellow of the Plantae group of the American Society of Plant Biologists, and a member of the International Society of Root Research, Asian Council of Science Editors, and International Natural Product Sciences. He is Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Plant Physiology, and a Series Editor of Exploring Medicinal Plants (Taylor & Francis Group, USA); Plant Biology, Sustainability, and Climate Change (Elsevier, USA); and Smart Nanomaterials Technology (Springer Nature, Singapore). He has been achieved the distinguished honour of being recognized as one of the ＂World’s Top 2% Scientists＂ for the year 2022, and again for the 2023 by Stanford University, USA. This recognition has also been prominently featured in the Elsevier Data Repository.

Manu Pant is currently working as Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Biotechnology at Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. She received her master’s degree in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology from Banasthali Vidyapith in Rajasthan, India, and her doctorate in Biotechnology from HNB Garhwal University (A Central University) in Srinagar, India. She has extensive experience in the field of plant tissue culture, having worked as a research fellow at the Forest Research Institute and the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education on nationally funded projects. Her research work on orchids has been funded by the state governments, earning her recognition and awards at the national level. She has several peer-reviewed international papers to her credit, published patents, and delivered numerous oral and poster presentations, keynote addresses, and invited talks at national and international scientific events. Pant has conducted many national and international conferences, seminars, and trainings related to the thrust areas in plant sciences. She has been supervising PhD, MSc, and BSc students in their research work on different aspects of orchids, medicinal plants, and indigenous crop species. For her work in the field of plant sciences, Pant has received appreciation from State and National level bodies.