Journal of
Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy

  • Abbreviation: J. Pharmacognosy Phytother.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2502
  • DOI: 10.5897/JPP
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 230

Article in Press

In vitro Micropropagation and Biological Activities of Astragalus fruticosus Forssk.

Wafaa Ismaeil, Rawia Zayed and Ashraf. El-Sayed

  •  Received: 30 January 2021
  •  Accepted: 01 March 2021
An efficient micropropagation protocol was developed for the rare, wild Egyptian Astragalus fruticosus Forssk. plant. Seed coat scratching was very effective for getting high frequency of seed germination (100%). Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with different concentrations of N6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin (Kn) and thidiazuron (TDZ) either singly or in combination with auxins as 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4 D) was used for regeneration studies. MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l BAP was observed to be optimum for direct shoot regeneration from stem and leaf explants of sterile seedlings. Embryogenic callus was induced in MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L 2, 4- D which showed 85.3 % callusing capacity, maintenance of embryogenic calli on the same medium resulted in regeneration of small plantlets of 1.3 - 2.4 cm height. Regenerated shoots were rooted by culturing onto half strength MS medium supplemented with 1mg/l NAA and complete plantlets were obtained and successfully acclimatized and established in plastic pots containing sterilized soil: sand (1:1) and grown under greenhouse conditions. Micropropagated plants showed strong cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and HL-60 cell lines, weak antioxidant action, and weak antimicrobial activity against only Bacillus subtilis.

Keywords: Astragalus fruticosus Forssk.; Organogensis; Callus induction; Plant regeneration; Cytotoxicity; Antioxidant; Antimicrobial activity.