Micropropagation Protocols for Picrorhiza kurroa, an Important Medicinal plant of Himalayas

Micropropagation is an effective method for large scale propagation of rare, endangered threatened (RET) medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs). The method is popularly used for ex situ conservation of plants and for their rehabilitation in nature. It is also a method for generating a sustainable resource base for pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, micropropagation protocols have been developed for Picroriza kurroa, which is a medicinally important plant of Himalayas falling under the RET category.

Picrorhiza kurroa is an important consitutent of several herbal formulations, popularly used for hepatoprotection. The global demand for P. kurroa is about 375 tonnes, where India contributes towards 70 tonnes only, and most of this is uprooted from wild. The plant is now endangered. Therefore, several thousands of tissue culture raised plants of P. kurroa have been transferred to natural habitat. The plants have shown two-fold multiplication and growth and are ready to serve as resource base for pharmaceutical industry and forestry.

• An efficient micropropagation protocol is developed for Picrorhiza kurroa with more than 85% survivability under natural habitat.
• The protocol developed is non-destructive, cost effective, efficient and up-scalable.