Abstract

STRATEGIES FOR CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANT WITHANIA COAGULANS: A REVIEW

Nishesh Sharma*, Indra Rautela, Varnika and Devsmitha

Abstract

Withania coagulans commonly known as doda paneer or Indian rennetis an important medicinal plant with tremendous medicinal potential.The plant has been reported to possess several biological andpharmaceutical properties. These properties are attributed to presenceof several bioactive compounds in the plant. W. coagulans also possesstraditional and commercial significance as seeds of plant are utilised toconvert milk into cheese. Despite having significant medicinalproperties the plant remains underutilised. The plant has becomecritically endangered in the recent past. Reproductive failure,extremely poor germination rate and unrestricted collection from wildstands for various purposes have rendered the plant criticallyendangered. Hence there is need for development of protocols andstrategies for conservation and also mass propagation of the plant. The present work reportsvarious studies conducted for mass propagation and measures which need to be adopted forconservation of the plant.

Keywords: W. coagulans, micropropagation, conservation.