Pharmacologically Important Metabolites from Viola spp and Role of Associated Endophytes in Reshaping its Metabolites Biosynthesis

Viola, commonly known as “Banafshah” in India, has been well studied in traditional Unani and Ayurvedic medicine for its pharmacological properties. However, the overexploitation of this plant has led to its status into endangered species. Microorganisms residing inside the plants play important role in plant adaptations. Endophytes which are also referred as the secondary genome of the host plant are well known for reshaping the host’s metabolic capabilities by stimulating secondary metabolite production. This review describes the distribution of Viola species in the north western Himalayan region and impact of recent advancements in characterizing pharmacologically active secondary metabolites. The review also investigates the influence of endophytes on biosynthesis of medicinally important secondary metabolites.