Manipulation of Plant Growth Regulators on Phytochemical Constituents and DNA Protection Potential of the Medicinal Plant Arnebia benthamii

Arnebia benthamii of the family Boraginaceae is a critically endangered nonendemic plant of the Kashmir Himalayas and is used to treat a number of human diseases. The current study was based on developing an in vitro micropropagation protocol vis-à-vis induction of various secondary metabolites under in vitro conditions for the possible biological activity. A tissue culture protocol was developed for A. benthamii for the first time in the Himalayan region using varied combinations and proper media formulations, including various adjuvants: Murashige and Skoog (MS) media, growth hormones, sugars, agar, and so forth. The influence of different media combinations was estimated, and the MS + thidiazuron (TDZ) + indole 3-acetic acid (IAA) combination favors a higher regeneration potential. The higher amounts of chemical constituents were also recorded on the same treatment. The in vitro plant samples also showed a noteworthy effect of scavenging of hydroxyl radicals vis-à-vis protection from oxidative DNA damage. The in vitro raised plants are good candidates for the development of antioxidant molecules.