Traditional to modern biotechnology tools used for conservation of endangered medicinal plant species

Abstract

Medicinal Plants are valuable resources which has its own importance in the human civilization. Since prehistoric era, medicinal plants usage has been studied by many scholar and philosophers all around the globe. In ancient literature, various application of different medicinal plants were enlisted which acted as a base for the development of modern clinical science. But due to over exploitation and unplanned conservation, many of the medicinal plants have become endemic species. Conservation of medicinal plants in conventional methods has been in existence since long back in the human history like good agricultural practices, wildlife sanctuaries, botanical garden were used for protection, preservation and propagation (PPP) of rare and endangered medicinal plant species. Although these conventional methods were cost effective and environmental friendly, but they have limitations and due to increasing human activities, conventional methods are not much effective. Biotechnological approaches can be an alternative to conventional techniques. For conservation of medicinal plants, biotechnological methods were implemented since 1980s-90s which includes in vitro propagation and cryopreservation techniques. These methods overcome the limitations observed in conventional methods and it also provides many advantages like plant hybridization, molecular research, DNA conservation, and many more.