Research in Biotechnology, 6(2): 31-38, 2015 ISSN: 2229-791X www.researchinbiotechnology.com Review Article Sterculiaceae: A critical appraisal on plant tissue culture studies in medicinally important plants Harshal A Deshpande and Sanjivani R Bhalsing* Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, India – 425001 *Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected] The members of Sterculiaceae are valuable source of different kinds of useful products like wood, medicine, fiber, firewood and timber suitable for furniture, as well as decorative plants, pharmaceutical products and aestic items. In recent years the relevance of plant tissue culture methods has gained thrust to meet the growing demands for pharmaceutical industries since the genetic diversity of medicinal plants is decreasing hap hazardously. Conventional propagation and high demand of planting material are the major constraints for the large scale multiplication of medicinal species which can be met economically and efficiently in short span of time by in vitro propagation. Micropropagation is an alternative means of propagation that can be engaged in the conservation of flora in relatively shorter time. Tissue culture is useful for multiplying and conserving the useful species which are difficult to regenerate and thus can be saved from extinction. There is an only partial advancement explored at the research level to suggest tissue culture studies in Sterculiaceae. Conclusively, this appraisal is the first of its kind which emphasizes the procedures available for in vitro propagation along with some of the remarkable achievements carried in some pharmaceutically and commercially important plants by in vitro culture techniques of plants from this family. Keywords: Pharmaceutical, medicinal, propagation, in vitro, Sterculiaceae In many countries herbs and latitude. India with its biggest repository of botanicals have a long history of medicinal medicinal plants in the world may perhaps use for alleviating human suffering from the maintain an important position in the very beginning of human civilization, and production of raw materials either directly records of the use of these botanicals are for crude drugs or as the bioactive available since about 5000 years ago (Gupta et compounds in the formulation of al; 2010) . According to World Health pharmaceuticals and cosmetics etc (Tiwari, organization (WHO) about 80% of world 2008 and Deshpande and Bhalsing; 2014a). In populations are still dependent on traditional India, nearly 15000 plant species are used as medicines (Deshpande and Bhalsing; 2013). a source of herbal medicines coming from India holds an enormous area with wide different families to cure problems ranging variation in climate, soil, altitude and from anti-biotic to anti- infective and from Deshpande and Bhalsing /Research in Biotechnology, 6(2): 31-38, 2015 anti-cancer to anti-aging (Tiwari; 2008). But in topical analgesic (Iwu; 1993)The seeds contrast however one such family which containing caffeine, is used as leprosy needs attention is family Sterculiaceae. remedy, gastrointestinal disorders (Okwari et al., 2000) The leaf decoction is drunk as an Family Sterculiaceae antimalarial, while the crushed leaves are Family Sterculiaceae is a family of flowering applied over the affected area against plants and often referred to as the chestnut leprosy. Leaves used as aperient, diuretic and family found throughout the world (Kirsty insect repellent (Chopra et al, 1992). Roots Reid; 2002) .The family name is based on the used in conventional medicine for stomach genus Sterculia. As traditionally circum- complaints curing skin diseases and scribed the families Sterculiaceae, Malvaceae, cleansing wounds and to treat venereal Bombacaceae and Tiliaceae comprise the diseases (Hutchings; 1992; Wu; 1993; and "core Malvales" of the Cronquist system and Chhabra et al; 1993). Decoctions of bark used the close relationship among these families is in delayed labour. The infusions of bark or generally recognized. It is quite a large family wood are used for treating intestinal ulcers, with 1,200 species (50 genera) which occurs stomach complaints, haemorroids and in tropical and subtropical regions and diarrhoea (Van Wyk et al., 1997). The gum mainly includes trees and shrubs (Kirsty obtained from various plants finds its use in Reid; 2002). However, some of the species are medicine (Mujumdar et al; 2000).Some of the herbaceous. Sterculiaceae had previously family members are purgative, emollient, been recognized as a family by most abortifacient, anti-tussive, anti-rabies, anti- systematists. The most famous products of syphilitic (Kirsty Reid; 2002) the family are chocolate and cocoa from Many members of the family Theobroma cacao, followed by kola nuts. Sterculiaceae are propagated through tubers, stem cuttings or through seeds Medicinal significance of family conventionally. But these methods have Sterculiaceae certain agronomic constraints like hampering To a certain extent the members of the family the production by several significant viral, Sterculiaceae serve as sources of medicine, fungal diseases and availability lack of good fibre, firewood and timber suitable for healthy planting materials (Das et al; 2013). furniture, as well as decorative plants (Van The conventional methods are slow and not Wyk, 1974). Probably the most important adequate for rapid multiplication. Further, member economically is the American cacao the yield is drastically reduced by viral and tree (Theobroma cacao), which is the source of nematode infections etc. and also due to commercial cocoa and chocolate (Kirsty Reid; ruthless exploitation of medicinal herbs form 2002).Many species yield timber. The natural habitats. Not only these but some of continued use of plants as food, as a source of the members revive naturally through seeds, beverages and for their medicinal properties but however their cultivation rate and poor depends on knowledge of the chemical seed dormancy are crucial factors for its constituents that are present (Harborne and propagation. As a result of which many of Baxter; 1993).Many are rich sources of the valuable useful plant members are getting pharmaceutically important compounds like extinct or endangered. Plant tissue culture diosgenin (Shriram and Shitole; 2008 and technique would be useful for conservation Deshpande and Bhalsing; 2014b), β – of rare and endangered plants for the sitosterol (Chawla and Bansal; 2014)The fruits production of industrially important are used as a stimulant, healing rituals and phytochemicals. 32 Deshpande and Bhalsing /Research in Biotechnology, 6(2): 31-38, 2015 In vitro propagation may help to has good working properties that has been prevail constraints related with availability of mainly used for light construction, interior high quality of planting material, tissue joinery, panelling, mouldings, cases, packing, culture technique provides a way to increase and matches (Emilio et al; 1997). the rapid production of medicinal and also enhances the production of useful bioactive Hildegardia populifolia (Roxb) Schott and Endl biomedicinals (Bhalsing et al; 2000 and Hildegardia populifolia, an endangered Deshpande and Bhalsing; 2014c). Though this indigenous medium sized tree species of family has such immense and valuable family, Sterculiaceae. The leaf extract is medicinal importance, but still there are no known to possess wound healing properties reports on tissue culture studies in family (Anuradha and Pullaiah; 2001). The whole Sterculiaceae. There is an only limited plant extract is used to cure malaria and dog progress at the research level to suggest bite Varaprasad et al; (2009). The leaf and tissue culture of Sterculiaceae. Hence, the stem bark extracts are reported to have present appraisal summarizes firstly some of antimicrobial (Saradha and Paulsamy; the important reports on the in vitro 2012a), antioxidant (Saradha and Paulsamy; propagation of medicinally important 2012b) and anti-inflammatory activities members form family Sterculiaceae from (Saradha and Paulsamy; 2013). The fiber literature data of recent years. This review extracted from the bark is used for domestic will focus the significant achievements of purposes recent years in the field of micropropagation of Sterculiaceae. Sterculia foetida L Sterculia foetida is a tropical plant used as a Medicinally important plants from timber for doors of huts, dugout canoes, boat Sterculiaceae planking, guitars and carved toys. The gum is Sterculia urens (Roxb) used for bookbinding, fire wood and charcoal Sterculia urens is a moderate sized, deciduous (Yoganandam et al; 2012). The seeds are eaten tree belonging to the family Sterculiaceae as purge/dewormer. The oil from seeds has (Town et al; 2008). It is commonly known as its use in local culinary and traditional `gum karaya tree'. This gum is a complex medicine. The leaves and bark is of medicinal polysaccharide. It is used as an ingredient in importance. The leaves exhibit anti the preparation of emulsions, lotions, denture inflammatory activity in acute carrageenan fixative powders, bulk laxatives, as a pulp induced rat paw edema. (Mujumdar et al; binder in the preparation of thin papers. The 2000).Oil from the seed is extracted on local gum also has applications in petroleum, scale to be used in medicine. (Rastogi and textile, pharma, food and dairy industries. It Mehrotra; 1993) has a wide application in food, baking and dairy industries (Gautami and Bhat;