An Efficient Protocol for Shoot Regeneration in Eclipta alba: A Plant with Multiple Medicinal Properties

Aims/Background: Eclipta alba (Linn.) Hassk. (Asteraceae) frequently referred to as bhringoraj in Indian Subcontinent and false daisy in other parts of the world is regarded as an herb of high medicinal value by practitioners of Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha medicine and plays a protective role for several liver ailments. The present study was dedicated on the establishment of a shoot regeneration protocol for Eclipta alba. Materials and Methods: Aseptic cultures were established through conventional tissue culture techniques, utilizing 0.1% mercuric chloride as a disinfectant on MS medium supplemented with 2.5 μM BA. Effect of PGRs, including cytokines and auxins, were studied on shoot regeneration potential of E. alba. Further effect of leaf maturity and different antibiotics were also evaluated on shoot regeneration efficacy of E. alba. Finally, regenerated plants were assessed for their true to type nature using RAPD and ISSR markers. Results: Shoot regeneration took place using Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with 15.0 mM of NAA and 1.0 mM of BA using leaves as explants. Furthermore, antibiotics and leaf position been shown to alter the shoot regeneration capability of leaf explants. Regenerated plantlets were found true to type using RAPD and ISSR markers. Conclusion: An efficient shoot regeneration protocol was developed for E. alba, which can be further used for trait specific genetic transformations of E. alba.