In vitro propagation of Canscora decussata Schult. and comparative assessment of anti-cholinesterase and antioxidant capacities of wild-harnessed and in vitro-grown plant extracts

Canscora decussata Schult., popularly known as 'shankhpushpi', is a threatened medicinal plant. The whole plant is used in Ayurveda for curing insanity, epilepsy and nervous debility. Seasonal and limited availability along with the demand in herbal industries justify the need for developing in vitro plantlets for sustainable utilization of this plant. In the present study, an efficient protocol for in vitro propagation of C. decussata has been developed. Highest shoot induction was observed in the Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 0.2 mg l(-1) benzylaminopurine (BAP) when nodal explants were used. Enhanced shoot induction (83.34 %) and multiplication (3.85 +/- A 0.23 average shoots per explant) were achieved when in vitro grown nodal buds were cultured on MS medium containing optimized BAP along with 1 mg l(-1) naphthaleneacetic acid. Different solvent extracts of in vitro grown plantlets and wild plants were compared for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory and antioxidant capacities. Highest AChE inhibitory activity was observed in ethanolic extract of wild plant biomass (IC50, 31.70 +/- A 0.16 A mu g ml(-1)) followed by ethanolic extract of in vitro plantlets (IC50, 44.17 +/- A 0.42 A mu g ml(-1)). On a whole, extracts of wild plant as well as in vitro plantlets exhibited the ability to scavenge DPPH and ABTS radicals, reduce ferric iron and protect DNA. These findings suggest that in vitro plantlets of C. decussata represent a promising alternative source for the botanicals 'sankhapushpi' for alleviating nervous ailments.