Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry Pharmacological and Biotechnogical approaches of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don

Catharanthus roseus is an important medicinal plant, mentioned in Ayurveda, an ancient Indian Sanskrit literature and has traditionally been used to treat many diseases including cancer and diabetes. More than 130 types of alkaloids (mostly monoterpene indole alklaloids) are reported from the plant and some proved effective in treating various types of cancers like breast and lung cancer, uterine cancer, melanomas, and Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Two main alkaloids vincristine and vinblastine reported used in cancer treatment. Considering the medicinal value of this plant which already been shown to have, we evaluated the various in vitro biotechnological and biochemical approaches (viz. effect media composition, plant growth regulators, pH of the culture medium, temperature, light, aeration, elicitors, mutagenesis, high cell density culture, selection of superior cell lines, bioreactor and immobilization methods, hairy root culture, somatic embryogenesis, biosynthesis of alkaloids, metabolic and genetic engineering in alkaloids biosynthesis, coupling method for alkaloids biosynthesis, cellular compartmentation etc.); which directly concerning with the in vitro micropropagation and the enhancement of important secondary metabolites present in Catharanthus and being used in the treatment of various diseases.