Research Projects

The Indian Himalaya region (IHR) is home to numerous medicinal and aromatic plants, including Jurinea macrocephala (Royle) C.B. Clarke, which has gained significant importance due to its multiple uses. Jurinea macrocephala, a prostrate stem-less perennial herb, belongs to the Asteraceae family and is commonly known as Himalayan Dolomiaea. It is a prostrate herb with anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-choline esterase, anti-malaria, and cytotoxic properties. However, it is prone to overexploitation due to its tuberous roots, which are commercially sold as 'Dhoop' to the incense industry. There is no effective conservation strategy for this high-value medicinal plant, and there is a need for biotechnology-based interventions to ensure secure conservation of elite germplasm. Conventional propagation of this species is slow and unable to overcome the threat of extinction. To address this, tissue culture propagation has emerged as a valuable method compared to conventional plant multiplication. To conserve Jurinea macrocephala, it is crucial to collect information about its population status and genetic diversity in its natural habitat and develop methods for its propagation for conservation and sustainable utilization. This proposal aims to analyze the population status and genetic diversity of the target species, establish an in vitro propagation and hardening protocol for enhanced production of secondary metabolites, and develop methods for propagation in the IHR.