ESTABLISHING BIOTECHNOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO PRODUCES SECONDARY METABOLITES FROM EXTRACT OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA

The Indian Himalayan region (BHR), one of the richest reservoirs of biological diversity in the world, is undergoing irrational extraction of wild, medicinal herbs, thus endangering many of its high value gene stock. Withonia somnifera L. (Dunal) is a member of solanaceae, also known for thousands of years by Ayurvedic practitioners. Withania somnifera root contains flavonoids, alkaloids, steroid and many active functional ingredients. Withania somnifera consists of very high concentration of secondary metabolites that can be also known as bioreactors like steroidal lactones, alkaloids and flavonoides, which have effective properties and they used in ninety commercially Ayurvedic formulations. Withania sominfera are propagated in northern western region of Madhaya Pradesh in India, on about 400 ha. But the risks of fungal infections are very high in these plants. Withania sominifera having small white flowers mainly in rainy and winter seasons that can be develop into fruit during the winter seasons. Plants products can be obtained from the roots, leaves, and branches, by using many different biological techniques. Withania which is also known as Ashwagandha having effective property can also used in blends and supplements which are designed to show many multiple effects. It is described as an herbal tonic and health food in Vedas and considered as ‘Indian Ginseng’ in traditional Indian system of medicine.