Spermidine influences enhanced micropropagation and antibacterial activity in Aerva javanica (Burm. F.) Shult

Aerva javanica is an exotic medicinal plant widely distributed in India. It possesses numerous medicinal benefits. The present study was aimed to in vitro regenerate the explants of Aerva javanica, and to quantify the components of secondary metabolites (using high performance liquid chromatography technique, HPLC) present in the wild and micropropagated samples. A comparative analysis of the antibacterial activity between wild, in vitro regenerated leaf and callus was also performed in this study. The in vitro propagation of the shoot tip explants was carried out in Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators. The results of the micropropagation showed highest rate of regeneration in lower concentration of spermidine (0.5 mg/L). Phytochemicals such as flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic compounds were identified as abundant content in wild, in vitro leaf and callus materials, they were quantified by using HPLC technique. The amount of flavonoid and phenolic compound was found to be higher in in vitro leaf, followed by callus extract and wild leaf extract. The fraction of secondary metabolites possess strong antibacterial activity against the selected human pathogens viz., Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus vulgaris. The study concluded with a first report on reproducible protocol for micro propagation and sustainable utilization of Aerva javanica in the pharmaceutical fields.