Biotechnological Aspects for Micropropagation of Artemisia absinthium L.

 Artemisia absinthium L. or ‘wormwood’, commonly known as ‘Dawna’, is a small perennial herb with a dark fragrance due to glandular trichomes present all over the plant. Medicinal properties of A. absinthium are known in most of Asia, South America, and Europe. Essential oil, along with other phytoconstituents, like flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and lignans, imparts medicinal potential to this species. It revealed antibacterial, antitumor, antimalarial, antioxidant, anthelmintic, antipyretic, antidepressant, antiulcer, antiprotozoal, hepatoprotective, neurotoxic and neuroprotective action. Due to its wide range of disease curing potential, A. absinthium germplasm is always under the pressure of overexploitation and loss of habitat. To cope with the higher industrial demand of this plant, the use of biotechnological techniques related to micropropagation can provide the best alternative. In vitro propagation using any explants has been extensively studied for the conservation of its plant genetic resources. Other micropropagation methods, such as callus culture, cell suspension, and organogenesis, have been adapted with the aim of secondary metabolite extraction and artemisinin enhancement. Modern biotechnological tools such as Agrobacterium-mediated gene transformation are mainly applied to hairy root and shoot cultures to optimize the biosynthesis of artemisinin. The present review throws light on various biotechnological studies carried out on A. absinthium, presenting the respective outcomes. 

Keywords: Artemisinin, Biotechnology, In vitro propagation, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Micropropagation.