Elicitors Enhance Alkaloid Yield in Catharanthus roseus

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don is an important plant of medicinal importance. A number of active compounds of this plant are anti-cancerous in nature. Two such compounds are vinblastine and vincristine; unfortunately, the level of these phytocompounds is very low. In this chapter, the influence of elicitation, one of the important biotechnological techniques, has been discussed for improving yield. Elicitation, the elicitor types, the role of biotic and abiotic elicitors, and molecular mechanism of elicitation have also been described by presenting elicitation model in C. roseus. Besides, the importance of in vitro culture, the role PGRs, precursor feeding, and other factors that have some role in enriching yield have also been highlighted.