Medicinal plants.

Traditional herbs have proved to be quiet effective in prevention as well as management of health and disease. Natural herbal remedies formulated by incorporating various plant extracts have up surged as next generation medicinal alternative. Primary health care issues are till date addressed by such formulations in developing country like India. Traditional Ayurvedic Indian medicinal system continues the eldest and ancient one but also living tradition based on experimental evidences. Ayurveda is a science of life company of holistic approach to health and personalized medicine. It is also known to be a perfect medical system that comprises psychological, physical, ethical, spiritual health, and philosophical. In this, every cell is considered to be inherently an important expression of original intelligence hence it is called a self-healing science. These medicinal plants have important position in Ayurveda and are very beneficial because all herbs have many different types of properties which help prevent chronic and severe diseases. Medicinal Plants boost immunity power, maintain the metabolism and prevent infections. They have many properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-viral, anti-aging, anti-cancer, etc and India being highest Medicinal plants producing country in Globe.

Among flowering plants, family Solanaceae is well known as ‘nightshade’ or ‘potato family’; comprising more than hundred genera and above 2500 species of trees, shrubs and herbs. Various species of Solanaceae contain valuable alkaloids. Many solanaceous members are valuable part of our food in the form of vegetables, salads and spices. Various parts of many plant species are used as medicines to cure health problems. A few species express toxic effects when eaten raw or unprocessed. Solanum xanthocarpum, Datura stramonium, D. innoxia, Hyocyamus niger, Capsicum annuum, Withania somnifera, Nicotiana tabacum, Atropa belladonna are most important species with ethno-medicinal uses. Various parts of these plant species are extensively used in the preparations of many ayurvedic medicines. Due to loss of natural habitat, overexploitation and less conservation practices, these plant species are soon going to be distributed in limited regions. In vitro conservation via tissue culture technique has been undertaken for these species so that increasing demand of raw material by pharmaceutical producers can be satisfied. This article highlights the medicinal importance and reviews the tissue culture efforts in the above solanaceous species.