In Vitro Techniques for Safeguarding Medicinal Plants with Antiallergic Properties

Medicinal plants possessing antiallergic properties are extensively used in several medicine systems across different countries. However, it is crucial to conserve these species ex situ in field genebanks (FGs), botanical gardens, seed genebanks, in vitro genebanks, and cryogenebanks because many of them are threatened in their native environments. While species producing orthodox seeds can be conserved in seed genebanks, others which are clonally or vegetatively propagated, produce recalcitrant or intermediate seeds, or belong to threatened and wild species pose challenges in collecting sufficient seeds. For such species, maintaining in FGs, clonal repositories, botanical gardens, and arboretums comes with uncertainties. Tissue culture methods therefore present a viable choice for their conservation. In the past four decades, biotechnological tools (in vitro) have been used for commercial propagation, evaluation, utilization, and repatriation of these species into their natural habitats. Then the present chapter presents a detailed overview of the progress and current state of in vitro techniques for safeguarding these species. The in vitro Genebanks facilitate short- to medium-term conservation under normal growth conditions in standard culture rooms, and slow growth conservation strategies in the in vitro Active Genebank (IVAG). Furthermore, long-term conservation is achieved through cryoconservation of in vitro-derived explants in the in vitro Base Genebank (IVBG). These techniques ensure the conservation of medicinal plants with antiallergic properties, safeguarding their genetic diversity and potential for future use.