An Overview of Biotechnology Research on Medicinal and Nutraceutical Plants

The biotechnology research on medicinal and nutraceutical plants at the Agricultural Research Station of the Fort Valley State University was initiated in 1993 with funding received through a USDA research project. Thereafter we received teaching/research funding from the USDA for several biotechnology projects on medicinal and nutraceutical plants. The primary goal of these biotechnology research projects has been to develop in vitro protocols for plant regeneration amenable to genetic manipulation to enhance cold tolerance, concentrations of the potential bioactive phytochemicals, and production of quality biomass and other parts important for bioactivity. In vitro culturing for micropropagation was carried out in solid/semisolid and liquid media as well as in the liquid lab rocker bioreactor system.  Thus far we have developed and/or refined various in vitro protocols for plant regeneration of several medicinal plants including skullcaps (Scutellaria species), mandukparni (Centella asiatica), brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), dhatura (Datura metel), and ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Similarly our laboratory has been successful in developing/refining plant regeneration protocols for different nutraceutical plants like peach (Prunus persica), papaya (Carica papaya), guava (Psidium guajava), and phalsa (Grewia asiatica). Some efforts were devoted for genetic transformation in selected cases. Also, we developed artificial/synthetic seeds of peach, guava, Centella and phalsa using Na-alginate. Five graduate students were financially supported through our biotechnology research projects to complete PhD in papaya biotechnology for micropropagation and genetic transformation cold hardiness, and MS in peach biotechnology, Scutellaria in vitro culture, and guava cold hardiness at different universities. Results will be discussed in light of their current applications.