Neoteric trends in tissue culture-mediated biotechnology of Indian ipecac [Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merrill].

Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merrill, an ethno-pharmacologically important perennial climber of Asclepiadaceae, is commonly known as Antamul or Indian ipecac. It is essentially accredited for its medicinal properties owing to its wide range of alkaloids in the form of bioactive secondary metabolites, such as tylophorine, tylophorinine, and tylophorinidine. Accelerated mass propagation of Tylophora is challenging because of its reduced seed germination frequency that consequently headed the pursuit for efficient protocols on in vitro propagation for the large-scale regeneration, conservation as well as sustainable supply of quality propagules. Ample tissue culture-mediated biotechnological investigations have been carried out on this medicinal plant till date and several micropropagation protocols have been standardized as well. The present review compares between several typical methods as well as factors, involving on direct and indirect organogenesis of Tylophora along with various up-to-date and modified techniques such as somatic embryogenesis, protoplast culture, synthetic seed production, genetic transformation, and in vitro interventions for the secondary metabolite production that have been reported in last two decades. This compilation will allow assessing the achievements and trends of Tylophora research so far, as well as will advance the research more rapidly, since many aspects, basic and applied, have yet to be explored.