The present investigation aimed at developing rapid micro propagation protocol, which can be used for conservation of Centella asiatica and mass multiplication of a valuable medicinal plant to meet out the pharmaceutical demand and its conservation. Attempts were made to evolve a rapid in vitro technology to conserve, as well as, mass propagate this valuable medicinal herb in very short duration. The combinations of benzylaminopurine (BAP, 4.0 and 5.0 mg/L) with IBA (0.25 mg/L) show shoot proliferation (83.3±0.16 %). The combination of BAP with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA, 2:0.25) in MS media showed maximum shoot elongation (2.25±0.70). Among the combinations of BAP with IBA and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), MS media supplemented with BAP: NAA (4:0.25) show maximum number of shoots per explants (1.2±0.38). BAP (4.0 mg/L) with NAA (0.4 mg/L) shows highest (6.13±0.16)multiplication rate. MS media supplemented with BAP with IBA (4:0.5 and 5:0.5) resulted in shooting, as well as, rooting simultaneously. Micro propagated plantlets were hardened, acclimatized and transferred to the field. Biochemical investigation revealed significantly higher total sugar, as well as, protein contents in vitro raised plants than field grown plants however; total starch content was lower in micro propagated micro shoots. This micro propagation procedure could be useful for mass multiplication of superior plant material for field cultivation, as well as, research purpose.

Key words: Axillary shoots proliferation, node culture, axenic, microshoots,benzylaminopurine (BAP), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA).