Ecorehabilitation and biochemical studies of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb.: a threatened medicinal succulent

In the present endeavour, a propagation protocol has been standardized for two varieties of threatened medicinal succulent, Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. (varieties bulbosa and lushii). The manuscript focuses on morphogenic response of shoot tips when cultured on MS media augmented with growth regulators. Maximum shoot length and highest number of shoots were observed when 6-benzyladenine (8.88 mu M) and alpha-naphthalene acetic acid were used in combination. During multiplication, antioxidant enzymes have shown variation in their activity. Total antioxidant activity and phenolic content were higher in the in vitro plants. Chlorophyll and protein content was higher in in vivo plants while proline was higher in in vitro plants. Superoxide dismutase activity was higher in naturally grown plants while, activities of catalase, glutathione reductase and peroxidase were elevated in the in vitro plants. Isolated cerpegin (pyridine alkaloid) was characterized using thin layer chromatography and attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy.