An efficient protocol was established for in vitro shoot multiplication from shoot tip explant of Trichosanthes cucumerina L. var. cucumerina on semisolid MS basal medium supplemented with BA. NAA in the culture medium along with BA promoted higher number of shoot multiplication than BA alone. The rate of shoot multiplication was maximum 12.00 ± 0.70 after four weeks of culture on MS basal medium supplemented with BA 1.0 mg/l + NAA 0.1 mg/l. The elongated shoots rooted within seven -eight days in half strength of MS basal salts supplemented 1.0 mg/l IBA and 3% (w/v) sucrose. About 90% of the rooted plantlets were acclimatized and transferred to the greenhouse and successfully transferred to the field with 80% survival rate. The histological study shows that the organogenesis occurs directly, without callus formation on epidermal and sub epidermal layer of the explants. Adventitious shoots were characterized by the development of shoots apical meristem and leaf primordial.
The total cucurbitacin content produced in the different parts of T. cucumerina L. var. cucumerina viz., fruit, stem and leaves with time and temperature was studied during the year 2007-08. The highest amount of cucurbitacins was produced in the month of February, i.e., 0.8, 1.7 and 3.7 w/w % and lowest was in the month of July 1.9, 0.5 and 0.17 w/w % in fruit, stem and leaves respectively. Present study reviles that, Production of cucurbitacin is temperature dependent as the temperature increases cucurbitacins production increased; decrease in the temperature production of cucurbitacins was found decrease. Due to high content of cucurbitacins, this plant may prove itself as a potent hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic agent, antifeedant and antimicrobial properties of the plants.
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