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Micropropagation, polyphenol content and biological properties of Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus): a potent medicinal and aromatic herb

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Abstract

Acorus calamus L. (family-Acoraceae) is commonly known as ‘Sweet Flag’ which grows naturally in marshy land, shallow water and the edges of the pond. In recent years, there is a growing demand of this plant due to its multidimensional implications including food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In the present study, an efficient and rapid in vitro regeneration system along with higher accumulation of secondary metabolites has been developed for A. calamus. The rhizome bud explant cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with a combination of BAP (3.0 mg/l) and IAA (1.0 mg/l) resulted in the production of maximum numbers of shoots (11.3 ± 0.4). Microshoots were transferred to MS medium supplemented with various concentrations and combinations of auxins for in vitro rooting. The maximum contents of total phenolics, flavonoids and higher antioxidant properties were reported in the rhizomes of tissue culture raised plants as compared to field grown ones. Methanolic and acetone extract of rhizomes of micropropagated plants showed slightly elevated antibacterial activity against five bacterial pathogens. The current findings indicated that, the phytochemicals together with the bioactivity of Sweet Flag is significantly high in the tissue culture derived plantlets.

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Acknowledgements

Rashtriya Uchchtar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Govt. of India is gratefully acknowledged for instrumentation facilities created under Component 8. Authors are indebted to the Principal, Yashavantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara (Autonomous) for providing necessary laboratory facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Yashavantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara, 415 001, India

    Prajakta S. Babar, Anuradha V. Deshmukh, Supriya S. Salunkhe & Jaykumar J. Chavan

  2. Department of Botany, Yashavantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara, 415 001, India

    Jaykumar J. Chavan

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  1. Prajakta S. Babar
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  2. Anuradha V. Deshmukh
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  3. Supriya S. Salunkhe
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  4. Jaykumar J. Chavan
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Correspondence to Jaykumar J. Chavan.

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Babar, P.S., Deshmukh, A.V., Salunkhe, S.S. et al. Micropropagation, polyphenol content and biological properties of Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus): a potent medicinal and aromatic herb. Vegetos 33, 296–303 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-020-00107-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-020-00107-8

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