Picrorhiza kurroa Royal ex Benth, a Scrophulariaceae member, is an important and highly valued medicinal herb endemic to alpine and sub alpine belts of the Indian Himalayas. Several monoterpenoid alkaloids are present in its tuberous roots which are known as picroside I, picroside II, picroside III ,cathpol and anthocynin. The plant has been overexploited for its valuable iridoid glycosides,and due to this environmental effect the plant is now considered in endangered category. The depleting status of the herb in the wild needs implementation of conservation and sustainable utilization practices. It is essential to apply biotechnological approaches to sustain the production of picrosides ex situ using in vitro regeneration to ensure its proper utilization and constant supply of useful active ingredients for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications. In the present research work, an attempt has been made to propagate the plant through induction of callus from leaf and shoot explants followed by regeneration. Different combinations of phytohormones based on usual practices of plant tissue culture were examined for callus induction and subsequently regeneration. Maximum callus induction was observed in MS supplemented with 0.5 mg L-1 TDZ + 0.3 mg L-1 IBA and 0.5 mg L-1 TDZ + 0.5 mg L-1 IBA in leaf and stem explants respectively. Callus derived from leaf and stem was transferred in Shoot induction medium where maximum shoot frequency was observed in 1.0 mg L-1 BA + 0.75 mg L-1 KN in leaf derived callus and 1.0 mg L-1 BA + 1.0 mg L-1 Kinetin in stem derived callus respectively. Shoots thus obtained were transferred for induction of roots.
