Effect of antioxidant protection system on regeneration potential of different chemotypes of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal ― A comparative analysis

TLDR: The study revealed that the difference in in vitro shoot organogenesis of different chemotypes largely depends on the antioxidant protection system of the plant involving non-enzymatic compounds and activities of antioxidant enzymes.

Abstract: Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, commonly called Indian Ginseng (Ashwagandha), is an important medicinal plant having a number of chemotypes which vary in their regenerative potentiality. In the present study, regenerative potentiality of four chemotypes of W. somnifera was compared using leaf explants. The study correlated that the chemotype (NIMTLI-130) with high total phenolic content (TPC), high H 2 O 2 concentration and low proline content was less regenerative, whereas, the chemotype (NIMTLI-101) with lesser TPC, lower H 2 O 2 concentration and high proline content was more regenerative. NIMTLI-130 showed higher SOD, GPX and APX activity compared to NIMTLI-101, but less CAT activity as well as low proline content and a weak detoxification effect resulting in lower regeneration. The study revealed that the difference in in vitro shoot organogenesis of different chemotypes largely depends on the antioxidant protection system of the plant involving non-enzymatic compounds and activities of antioxidant enzymes.