Biotechnological alternatives for commercial and sustainable production of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants

Maziah Mahmood, . (2006) Biotechnological alternatives for commercial and sustainable production of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants. [Proceedings Paper]

Most medicinal plants for commercial use are still being collected from the wild. This cause for concern because of the gradual disappearance of some species. In addition there have been reports of fluctuations of the bioactive content due to factors such as physiological conditions climatic changes and the differences in growing localities. New technologies need to be developed to facilitate the production of these useful plants. Micropropagation technique has been successfully employed in the production of planting materials for several medicinal plants. Plants produced using tissue culture are generally superior because they are disease-free and uniform in their performances. The use of tissue culture techniques to mass propagate quality planting materials is a novel approach in accelerating commercial production for the plantation sectors. These protocols ensure unlimited multiplication of a single quality mother plant which will be true to type. They are useful in producing plants that are difficult to propagate by conventional methods which may be due to low seed set sterility infrequent flowering or limited supply of mother plants. Examples of such plants are Eurycoma longifolia Tongkat Ali and Labisia pumila Kacip Fatimah. In addition plants obtained through these techniques will be disease-free and genetically stable. However each plant species generally requires specific tissue culture conditions to produce desirable results. Use of tissue-cultured plants in a large scale planting will no doubt benefit the plantation sectors. The advantages are not only from the availability of superior and uniform planting materials but also from the opportunity to better manage the planting fertilizing and harvesting programmes. The added benefits include sustainable production and sufficient supply of high quality materials at reasonable prices. Micropropagation of medicinal plant species will contribute to conserving and improve our plant biodiversity. The micropropagation protocols issues and challenges of selected species will be discussed. Other biotechnological protocols to produce bioactive compounds will also be highlighted.

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Abstract

Most medicinal plants for commercial use are still being collected from the wild. This cause for concern because of the gradual disappearance of some species. In addition there have been reports of fluctuations of the bioactive content due to factors such as physiological conditions climatic changes and the differences in growing localities. New technologies need to be developed to facilitate the production of these useful plants. Micropropagation technique has been successfully employed in the production of planting materials for several medicinal plants. Plants produced using tissue culture are generally superior because they are disease-free and uniform in their performances. The use of tissue culture techniques to mass propagate quality planting materials is a novel approach in accelerating commercial production for the plantation sectors. These protocols ensure unlimited multiplication of a single quality mother plant which will be true to type. They are useful in producing plants that are difficult to propagate by conventional methods which may be due to low seed set sterility infrequent flowering or limited supply of mother plants. Examples of such plants are Eurycoma longifolia Tongkat Ali and Labisia pumila Kacip Fatimah. In addition plants obtained through these techniques will be disease-free and genetically stable. However each plant species generally requires specific tissue culture conditions to produce desirable results. Use of tissue-cultured plants in a large scale planting will no doubt benefit the plantation sectors. The advantages are not only from the availability of superior and uniform planting materials but also from the opportunity to better manage the planting fertilizing and harvesting programmes. The added benefits include sustainable production and sufficient supply of high quality materials at reasonable prices. Micropropagation of medicinal plant species will contribute to conserving and improve our plant biodiversity. The micropropagation protocols issues and challenges of selected species will be discussed. Other biotechnological protocols to produce bioactive compounds will also be highlighted.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang Selangor Malaysia. RS180 M3I61 2005 Call Number
AGROVOC Term:	Biotechnology
AGROVOC Term:	Tissue culture
AGROVOC Term:	Micropropagation
AGROVOC Term:	Climatic change
AGROVOC Term:	Organogenesis
AGROVOC Term:	Somatic embryogenesis
AGROVOC Term:	Medicinal plants
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:14
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/11723

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