In vitro EXPLORATION OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SALINITY STRESS IN ENHANCING ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF Rauwolfia serpentina (L.) BENTH. ex KURZ (ANGIOSPERMS; APOCYNACEAE)

Rauwolfia serpentina is an endangered plant. The plant tissue culture comes to rescue when the plant has low germination rate and high medicinal value as reported in Rauwolfia. This technique is used not only for mass production of drug at cost affordable levels but also for the conservation of important species. Rauwolfia has great medicinal value due to various indole alkaloids and moreover Resperine is the main constituent. Callus culture was induced from leaf, shoot explants on Murashige and Skoog medium augmented by diverse concentrations of growth regulators for swift commencement of callus and biomass production. Rauwolfia releases many different phenolic compounds and alkaloids which are responsible for the antioxidant activity. Phenolic accumulation is stress marker in plants in response to abiotic stress such as salinity. In this review an attempt is made to highlight the phenylpropanoid pathway and phenolic acid response in Rauwolfia under salinity stress in lab conditions and thus contribute to antioxidant property of the plant. Abiotic stress leads to activation of PAL enzyme which is crucial step in phenylpropanoid pathway and supports synthesis of phenolics which have antioxidant potential of great value. The emphasis of present review is micropropogation of Rauwolfia due to its high therapuetic value and influence of salinity stress on phenylpropanoid pathway. Box plot analyses are performed on PAL enzyme activity in salt stress in callus of Rauwolfia serpentina. These results graphically depicted the PAL enzyme activity data distribution. Additional research of this species should be focussed on in vitro investigations of its pharmaceutical active mechanisms which help in formulation of curative products of high value. Moreover, molecular understanding of salinity stress which influence PAL enzyme and synthesis of phenolics will enhance the large-scale production of phytochemicals for various scientific purposes.