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VOL. 11, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Standardization of in vitro techniques for mass scale propagation of Asclepias curassavica L. - A medicinally important plant species of Bangladesh
Authors
Susanta Basak, Mehebub Hossain, Md. Shakhawat Hossain, Tapash Kumar Bhowmik
Abstract
Asclepias curassavica L., commonly known as tropical milkweed is a highly valuable medicinal plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family. Despite its rich repository of therapeutic secondary metabolites including cardenolides and polyphenols; wild populations in Bangladesh face severe depletion due to over exploitation, habitat fragmentation and poor natural seed viability. This study aimed to establish a highly efficient, reproducible and standardized in vitro direct propagation protocol for the mass scale conservation and commercial production of A. curassavica. Utilizing nodal segments and shoot apices, direct multiple shoot buds (MSBs) proliferation, shoot elongation and rhizogenesis were systematically evaluated across varying concentrations of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs). The highest frequency of MSBs induction from nodal explants (85%) and the maximum number of shoots per explant (2.40 ± 0.85) were achieved within 21-23 days on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l BAP and 2.0 mg/l NAA. For combined evaluation of explant types, nodal segments significantly outperformed shoot apices. In the callogenesis assays, the highest frequency of greenish compact callus (90%) was recorded from internode explants cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 1.0 mg/l BAP within 20-22 days. Shoot elongation was optimized on MS medium fortified with 2.0 mg/l BAP and 1.0 mg/l NAA, yielding a maximum length increase of 3.18 ± 0.32 cm after 30d of culture. Efficient in vitro rhizogenesis was obtained on half strength MS medium containing 2.0 mg/l IBA, which induced the highest rooting percentage (95%), root count (6.35 ± 0.31/shoot) and root length (3.67 ± 0.21 cm). Successfully rooted seedlings were systematically acclimatized and transferred to ex vitro field conditions, demonstrating a high survival rate of 80%. This optimized protocol ensures the sustainable, year round production of genetically uniform and disease free A. curassavica seedlings, mitigating the pressure on wild habitats and fulfilling the demands of the global pharmaceutical industry.
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Pages:53-60
How to cite this article:
Susanta Basak, Mehebub Hossain, Md. Shakhawat Hossain, Tapash Kumar Bhowmik "Standardization of in vitro techniques for mass scale propagation of Asclepias curassavica L. - A medicinally important plant species of Bangladesh". International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Research, Vol 11, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 53-60
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