An overview on tissue culture studies of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn: An endangered multi-potential medicinal herb

Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. (Hypoxidaceae) is popularly known as black musali in India. The rhizome as well as tuberous roots of the plant has been extensively used in indigenous system of medicine in India, Pakistan and China, for the treatment of various diseases including jaundice, asthma and diarthrosis. The juice extracted from the rhizome has also been used as a tonic to overcome impotency, to prevent bone loss, for antidiabetic activity, antitumor activity and antibacterial activity. The active principles that have been reported are flavones, glycosides, steroids, saponins, triterpenoids. The plant is propagated itself in nature through seeds and grows only during rainy season. Poor seed setting and poor seed germination restricts the natural multiplication. Associated with these, over-exploitation and habitat destruction has lead to the present endangered status of this plant, the need for in vitro conservation of this plant is crucial. Therefore the present review is an attempt to focus on in vitro Propagation studies of this important medicinal plant.