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© 2017 by the authors. Licensee, Editors and AIMST University, Ma-
laysia. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms
and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
ISBN: 978-967-14475-3-6; eISBN: 978-967-14475-2-9 116
Biotechnology for Sustainability
Achievements, Challenges and Perspectives
Biotech Sustainability (2017), P117-128
Biotechnological Approaches for Conservation and Sus-
tainable Supply of Medicinal Plants
Sagar Satish Datir1, * and Subhash Janardhan Bhore2
1Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune – 411007, MS, In-
dia; 2Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, AIMST University,
Bedong-Semeling Road, 08100, Bedong, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia;
subhashbhore@gmail.com / subhash@aimst.edu.my (SJB);
*Correspondence: datirsagar2007@gmail.com; Tel.: +91 8412013810
Abstract: Food and medicines are integral part of human life. Continuously increasing
global population and food demand has created an alarm about sustainable use of natural
resources. Due to adverse environmental conditions such as drought, salinity, temperature
and pathogens, it is very challenging to achieve high yield with current agricultural practic-
es. Due to deterioration of food quality and unpredictable environmental conditions, there is
a major public health concern about various diseases. Plant-derived compounds are playing
significant role in combating various human diseases since prehistoric times and therefore,
there is an increasing demand for production of plant-derived secondary metabolites. How-
ever, due to mismanagement of natural resources and faulty agricultural practices, several
medicinal plant species have become rare, vulnerable and endangered. Hence, alternative
strategies are needed to protect medicinally important plant species. Biotechnology has be-
come a center of attraction due to its innumerable advantages in agriculture, pharmaceuti-
cals, forestry and food sectors. In recent years, plant-derived compounds (also called as
natural compounds) are widely studied and biotechnological tools such as, in vitro propaga-
tion, transgenic for secondary metabolite production and cryopreservation not only provid-
ed alternative but also offer sustainable approaches towards conservation of medicinally
important plant species. This brief review highlights various biotechnological approaches
for conservation and sustainable supply of medicinal plants. Achievements, challenges and
perspectives on in vitro propagation for the conservation of medicinal plants are also high-
lighted.
Keywords: Biotechnology; conservation; medicinal plants; plant tissue culture; secondary
metabolites; sustainable development
1. Introduction
problems have magnified the aforemen-
tioned threats and necessitated the sus-
Climate change, biotic and abiotic
tainable use of natural resources. Food
stress, depletion of natural resources, de-
and medicines are integral part of human
forestation and loss of biodiversity are
life and to fulfil the growing demand,
major challenges in the process of sus-
continuous global efforts are underway
tainable global development. In order to
for increasing agricultural productivity.
fulfill the basic requirements such as
The United Nations Food and Agricultur-
food, fuel, medicines and shelter, humans
al Organization (FAO) assuming that
are completely dependent on natural re-
global population will be about 9.1 billion
sources. However, continuous increase in
in 2050 (Godfray et al., 2010). It is re-
global population and associated food
ported that 83% medicinal plants have
ISBN: 978-967-14475-3-6; eISBN: 978-967-14475-2-9 117
Biotechnological Approaches for Plants Conservation Datir and Bhore become endangered mainly due to the
though they are facing the threat of be-
human activity (European Commission,
coming endangered and or extinct (Ma-
2008; Ibrahim et al., 2013). Whereas,
nohar, 2012).
over-utilization of natural resources, pol-
One third of the global plant spe-
lution of the soil, water and the atmos-
cies are threatened at different level ac-
phere, and introduction of invasive spe-
cording to International Union of Conser-
cies have resulted into reduced biodiversi-
vation of Nature (IUCN, 2013). Further-
ty (Hunde, 2007).
more, the habitat destruction and loss also
Medicinal plants are important for
leads to the fragmentation of the remain-
the wellbeing of human population and
ing habitat which eventually results in
there is an increasing demand for the pro-
further isolation of the respective plant
duction of plant-derived secondary me-
species population. The destructive har-
tabolites/ novel drug leads (Atanasov et
vest of underground parts of slow repro-
al., 2015). Currently, there is constant
ducing, slow growing and habitat-specific
demand for plants and plant parts in
plant species are the crucial factors in
pharmaceutical industries as well as from
making
them
vulnerable
and
rare
Ayurveda professionals. Furthermore, due
(Ghimire et al., 2005; Kala, 2005).
to major public concerns about dreadful
Providing high quality planting material
diseases such as cancer, HIV etc., phar-
for sustainable use and thereby saving the
maceutical industries are actively engaged
genetic diversity of plants in the wild is
in production of plant-derived drugs. Due
important (Krishnan et al., 2011). How-
to the toxicity and side effects of synthet-
ever, due to the human intervention there
ic drugs, the plant-derived drugs are be-
is rapid dwindling of plant resources for
coming more popular and as a result there
medicines; hence, alternative strategies
is increase in the number of herbal drug
and or innovative approaches are needed
manufacturers (Verma and Singh, 2008;
for their conservation. Bukuluki et al.
Agrawal, 2005; Lahlou, 2013).
(2014) had scrutinized the harvesting
The projected escalating demand
practices of medicinal plants in Uganda
for medicinal plants is increasing which
and identified harvesting methods for sus-
leads to unscrupulous collection from the
tainable supply of medicinal plants. The
wild and adulteration of raw material
good harvesting practices suggested in-
supplied to the manufacturers. Ultimately,
clude, careful harvesting of roots without
this practice has resulted into the over-
affecting tap root, careful removal of stem
harvesting of many plants from wild and
bark to avoid damaging the innermost
disturbed the population of various me-
layer that contributes to drying of the
dicinal plant species and several species
plant, plucking of leaves without breaking
even became endangered (Kala et al.,
the shoots, picking flowers those are fall-
2006; Rao et al., 2004). It has been re-
en down or selecting only a few in order
vealed that more than 50,000 plant spe-
to allow the plant to bear fruits and repro-
cies are used in phytotherapy and medi-
duce. Recently, Hishe et al. (2016) re-
cine of which 2/3 are harvested from na-
viewed the value chain of medicinal
ture leading to local extinction of many
plants and the associated challenges. They
species or degradation of their habitats
have conducted detailed studies of modes
(Tasheva and Kosturkova, 2012). Due to
of harvesting, storage, packaging, supply
the constant expansion of herbs trade, the
and distribution of medicinal plants. They
insufficient cultivation fields, and the
highlighted that the medicinal plants sup-
weak management of harvesting and
ply chains have varying requirements for
overharvesting of medicinal plants have
their cultivation, resource management in
led to exhaustion of the natural resources
the wild, harvesting, processing and mar-
and reduction in the biodiversity. Medici-
keting. Considering these facts, they had
nal plants are always in demand even
concluded that in order to become com-
ISBN: 978-967-14475-3-6; eISBN: 978-967-14475-2-9 118
Biotechnological Approaches for Plants Conservation Datir and Bhore petitive in the medicinal plants global
for food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic
market place, value chain must become
industries (Nalawade et al., 2003). A sys-
more flexible, innovative and efficient, so
tematic concept of sustainability was pro-
it can bring to market new products in a
posed by Prescott-Allen and Prescott-
timely fashion.
Allen (1996). According to them, both
As medicinal plants represent con-
humans and ecosystem are interrelated
sistent part of biodiversity, their utiliza-
and dependent on each other. Hence, in
tion and conservation strategies needs
conceptual terms, the essence of sustaina-
planned management for sustainability.
ble development is expressed by the rela-
Therefore, systematic efforts should not
tionship between people and the ecosys-
only be directed towards preservation of
tem around them. They further stated that
the plant populations but also elevating
the society is thought to be sustainable
the level of knowledge for sustainable
when both the human condition and the
utilization of these plants in medicine
condition of the ecosystem are satisfacto-
(WHO 2010). Developing strategies for
ry or improving. They concluded that the
long-term sustainable supply of medicinal
system improves only when both the con-
plants is challenging; therefore, it has
dition of the ecosystem and the human
been suggested that to meet future public
condition improve (Prescott-Allen and
food and healthcare demand, integration
Prescott-Allen, 1996).
of conventional methods and biotechnol-
In order to supply medicinal
ogy are essential. Biotechnological meth-
plants or medicinal plant-based raw mate-
ods not only offer faster cloning and con-
rial in a sustainable manner, various in
servation of the genotype of the plants;
situ and ex situ strategies (which includes
but also enable genetic modification, gene
in vitro techniques, botanical gardens,
regulation and expression for an efficient
plant banks, GenBank, gene sanctuaries
production of valuable natural substances
and seed banks) have been suggested for
in higher amounts or with better proper-
the conservation of critically endangered
ties (Tasheva and Kosturkova, 2012). Be-
plant species (Khan et al., 2012). Genetic
cause of innumerable advantages of bio-
diversity preservation is of prime im-
technology in agriculture, pharmaceuti-
portance while conserving plant genetic
cals, forestry, food industry and other sec-
resources. For the conservation of plant
tors, the field of biotechnology has be-
and or their germplasm, ex situ and in situ
come a center of attraction for conserva-
strategies are used. The in situ approach
tion and sustainable supply of medicinal
includes the maintenance of plant species
plants.
and or their populations in their habitats,
where they can naturally occur, grow and
2. Biotechnological approaches for con-
reproduce. Whereas, ex situ approach of
servation of medicinal plants
conservation focuses on the maintenance
of plant species germplasm under con-
It appears that biotechnology is
trolled conditions (Pathak and Abido,
emerging dramatically as a key enabling
2014; Rai et al., 2010). The multiplication
technology for environmental protection
of plants by classical methods such as
and stewardship in a sustainable manner
cuttings, budding, layering, and or graft-
(Cantor, 2000; Gavrilescu, 2004; Arai,
ing in nurseries produces enormous num-
2006). Biotechnological advances have
ber of plants. However, biotechnological
encompassed almost every aspect of hu-
methods such as micropropagation, meta-
man life including food, fuel, cosmetics,
bolic engineering and genetic manipula-
medicines and beverages. Most im-
tions are especially appropriate for spe-
portantly,, biotechnology based-methods
cies which are difficult to propagate in
are reliable and provides continuous sup-
vivo (Tasheva and Kosturkova, 2012).
ply of raw material and natural products
Hence, in situ approach of conservation
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Biotech Sustainability (2017)
Biotechnological Approaches for Plants Conservation Datir and Bhore alone would not be efficient and effective
(Sreekumar and Renuka, 2006). Biotech-
strategy for conservation and multiplica-
nological approaches for sustainable sup-
tion of medicinal plants. Krishnan et al.
ply and conservation of medicinal plants
(2011) suggested that prudent application
include micropropagation, mycorrhiza-
of propagating biotechnology tools in
tion, genetic transformation and devel-
plant conservation program is a prerequi-
opment of the DNA banks (Sheikhpour et
site to succeed (in sustainable use of me-
al., 2014; Rai et al., 2010). Figure 1 de-
dicinal plants) and to complement the ex-
picts the biotechnological approaches use-
isting ex situ measures. The systematic
ful in sustainable supply of medicinal
