What Are Edible Vaccines? Edible vaccines are genetically modified plants that produce antigens, which, when consumed, stimulate an immune response against specific diseases. How Are They Made? A gene encoding an antigen (from a virus or bacterium) is inserted into a plant’s DNA using Agrobacterium tumefaciens or gene gun technology. The plant expresses the antigen, … Read more
Applications of Plant Tissue Culture in Pharmacognosy enable mass production of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants. Applications of Plant Tissue Culture in Pharmacognosy aid rare medicinal plant preservation and sustainable herbal drug resources. Plant tissue culture has several applications in this field: Large-Scale Production: Cultures produce secondary metabolites (e.g., alkaloids, flavonoids) for medicinal use. Example: … Read more
Types of Plant Tissue Cultures include callus, suspension, organ, meristem, and protoplast cultures for plant propagation. Plant tissue culture techniques vary depending on the part of the plant being cultured and the objective of the study. Below are the major types of plant tissue cultures, each with its unique methodology and applications. 1. Callus Culture … Read more
Hybridization in Medicinal Plants combines traits from two species to enhance yield, quality, and disease resistance. What is Hybridization in Medicinal Plants? Hybridization is the process of crossing genetically different plant species or varieties to create offspring with desirable traits, improving yield, quality, and resistance. Types of Hybridization Intraspecific Hybridization: Crossing between different varieties of … Read more
Mutation Breeding in Medicinal Plants induces genetic changes to enhance yield, quality, and resistance traits. Mutation Breeding in Medicinal Plants develops improved varieties with higher medicinal value and adaptability. What is Mutation? A mutation is a sudden, heritable genetic change, occurring naturally or induced through chemical or physical agents. Types of Mutations Spontaneous Mutations: Occur … Read more
Conservation of Medicinal plants are valuable natural resources used in traditional and modern medicine. Due to overharvesting, habitat destruction, and climate change, many medicinal plant species are at risk. Conservation efforts aim to protect and sustain these plants for future generations. Types of Conservation In-Situ Conservation (On-Site) Protects plants in their natural habitat. Methods: Establishing … Read more
Polyploidy in Medicinal Plants increases chromosome sets, enhancing growth, yield, and active constituent content. Polyploidy in Medicinal Plants improves medicinal value, stress tolerance, and genetic diversity for better drug sources. What is Polyploidy? Polyploidy is a genetic condition where a plant has more than two sets of chromosomes. While most plants are diploid (2n), polyploid … Read more
Plant Hormones and Their Applications involve regulating growth, development, and stress responses in plants. Plant Hormones and Their Applications boost yield, improve quality, and aid in crop management and propagation. Introduction to Plant Hormones and Their Applications Plant hormones (phytohormones) regulate growth, development, and stress responses. In pharmacognosy and phytochemistry, they enhance medicinal plant yield, … Read more
Factors Influencing Cultivation of Medicinal Plants include soil, climate, water, and light conditions. Factors Influencing Cultivation of Medicinal Plants impact yield, quality, and active constituent content. Cultivation of medicinal plants is also influenced by several environmental, biological, and agricultural factors that impact growth, yield, and the quality of bioactive compounds. Environmental Factors Climate – Temperature, … Read more
Storage of Medicinal Plants preserves potency by controlling temperature, humidity, and light exposure. Proper Storage of Medicinal Plants prevents degradation, contamination, and loss of therapeutic value. Proper storage ensures that medicinal plant materials retain their potency and medicinal properties. Factors Affecting Storage Temperature Control: Cool storage (10-15°C) prevents degradation. Essential oils (Peppermint, Eucalyptus) require refrigeration. … Read more
