Encapsulation of Tinospora cordifolia for Sustainable Germplasm Conservation and In-vitro Propagation
Vanshika Goel
Department of Biotechnology, Meerut Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut-250005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Nitika Vats *
Department of Biotechnology, Meerut Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut-250005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Tinospora cordifolia (commonly known as giloy) is highly valued in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for their therapeutic properties. Giloy is known for enhancing immunity, reducing inflammation, and supporting liver health. However, giloy is threatened by overharvesting and environmental factors, necessitating the exploration of sustainable cultivation and conservation strategies. This study examined the application of encapsulation techniques for the controlled preservation of Tinospora cordifolia germplasm. The effects of different calcium chloride concentrations (50 mM, 75 mM, and 100 mM), sodium alginate concentrations (1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%), and storage temperatures (25°C and 4°C) on viability of nodes and growth were evaluated over 0, 7, 14, and 21 days.
Preliminary results indicated that a combination of 75 mM calcium chloride, 3% sodium alginate, and storage at 4°C resulted in the best encapsulation and growth outcomes with a regeneration frequency of 90%. These findings highlight the potential of encapsulation for the genetic preservation, stress resistance, and sustainable cultivation of medicinal plants, addressing broader concerns such as biodiversity loss and climate change. This synthetic seed technology can play very crucial role in short term as well as long term conservation of medicinal germplasm.
Keywords: Tinospora cordifolia, encapsulation, germplasm conservation, sodium alginate, calcium chloride, micropropagation