Phyllanthus niruri is a very well-known medicinal plant used against jaundice and other ailments since times immemorial. The morphogenic response of Phyllanthus niruri was carried out in MS medium with BA, IBA, NAA, Ad, 2, 4-D and Kn. The nodal explants treated with BA showed good establishment and also the formation of multiple shoots up to 20 in 2 mgL^_1. Nodal explants with IBA treatment revealed good establishment and also produced multiple shoots around 15-16 in 3 mgL^_1. The nodal explants in the treatments of BA + Kn and IBA + Kn revealed good organogenesis in MS medium. The combination of NAA + Kn and 2, 4-D + Kn revealed significant callogenesis. In the treatment of NAA 2 mgL^_1 and 3 mgL^_1, explants resulted in callus formation and few shoots. Ad treatment showed good shoot and root as well as callus. Apical meristem was also tried with BA, IBA, NAA and Ad. In BA and IBA (2 mgL^_1 and 3 mgL^_1), treatment multiple shoots were observed with little callus, whereas the treatment of Ad (2 mgL^_1 and 3 mgL^_1) produced shoots, roots and also callus. Nodal explants and apical meristem/terminal bud in MS medium with coconut milk exhibited good shoot, root growth and formation of some amount of callus in 10 mLL^_1.

Human civilizations across the world have contributed to the knowledge of plant-based natural products in medicine. As we go along the pages of history, we can find a lot of instances, where these products are administered for a plethora of ailments that cause suffering. Phyllanthus niruri is one of such very well-known medicinal plants used in various schools of indigenous medicine. Phyllanthus is a genus with over 600 species and is distributed in warm countries and has been used in Ayurveda for over 2000 years. About 40 species are native to Indian subcontinent. It is grown in the compost mixture consisting of loamy soil, dried cow manure, silver sand, powdered charcoal and brick. Propagation is by seeds (Purohit and Vyas, 2004). P. niruri is known by different vernacular names in India. In Telugu it is called as Bhumiamlakai, in Sanskrit it is Amlika or Bahupatra (Farooqi and Sreeramu, 2004). The plant body is about 30-60 cm in height. Fruits are conspicuous beneath the leaves althrough the ribs (Kirtikar and Basu, 1994). This plant is the subject of much phytochemical studies (to determine the active principles) and has pharmacological significance since mid-1960s. The extraction of the bitter leaves of P. niruri yielded six lignans of which two belong to diarylbutane class and four belong to aryltetralin group (Somanabandhu et al., 1993). The main chemicals in P. niruri are alkaloids, astragalin, brevifolin, carboxylic acids, phyllanthin, niranthin, etc. P. niruri is being used in treating hepatitis B, jaundice, colic, diarrhea, dysentery, urinogenital infections, leprosy, bronchitis, anemia, asthma, tubercular ulcers, scabies, sores, ringworm, etc. (Farooqi and Sreeramu, 2004). The traditional use of this plant material was validated by modern scientific investigators available in the vast literature on this species (Freitas et al., 2002). Looking at the spectrum of applications of the plant is put to, it is imperative to design strategies for the enhancement of the yield of secondary products from this invaluable plant. And since there is an urgent need to address the growing demand of products from this plant in the herbal market and poor strategies to cultivate and harvest the crop for medicinal purposes, the present study finds its relevance in giving an in vitro standardized protocol for culturing the plant material. This would further pave way to research in the production of secondary metabolites by in vitro methods.

Genetics & Evolution Journal, Phyllanthus Niruri L, Callogenesis, Morphogenesis, Human Civilizations, Phytochemical Studies, Secondary Metabolites, Coconut Endosperm, Nodal Segments, Standard Aseptic Methods, Subculturing, Vitro Rhizogenesis.