Abstract
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A network project on the ex situ conservation and sustainable utilization of Rare, Endangered, and Threatened (RET) medicinal plants has been operational since 2008, coordinated by ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, with nine collaborating centers across southern and northeastern India. This initiative focuses on 32 targeted species, including Acorus calamus, Alpinia galanga, Celastrus paniculatus, Decalepis hamiltonii, Kaempferia galanga, and Oroxylum indicum. Through 31 exploration missions across Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, a total of 374 accessions were collected and successfully established under Field Gene Bank (FGB) conditions for systematic evaluation.
Morphological characterization using species-specific descriptors revealed significant variability in floral, fruit, and seed traits among the accessions. Molecular characterization, a key objective, was conducted using ISSR markers. Previously reported data included Celastrus paniculatus, Acorus calamus, and Oroxylum indicum, while the current phase adds Alpinia galanga, Kaempferia galanga, and Decalepis hamiltonii, confirming considerable intra-species genetic diversity.
Chemical profiling, crucial for identifying elite chemotypes and ensuring authenticity, was undertaken for multiple species. New profiling methods were standardized for some species, enhancing the potential to detect adulteration and optimize selection for multiplication and promotion. HPLC protocols were developed and used to authenticate plant samples.
A comprehensive database, “Retmed Base,” was established, integrating all morphological, molecular, and chemical data. Seed banks were set up for species propagated through seeds, with samples deposited in the National Gene Bank of NBPGR and IC numbers assigned. Protocols for in vitro propagation and conservation were optimized for species like Alpinia calcarata and Kaempferia galanga. Preliminary studies in pollination biology and pollen viability were also undertaken. Seedlings and planting materials were distributed to collaborators and stakeholders, thereby supporting conservation, research, and outreach goals of the project. The details of these work will be presented
Keywords: RET medicinal plants, exploration collection characterization and conservation
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