Rao, P.B.Bhatt, Richa2019-12-142019-12-142006-08http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810137698Medicinal plants are the herbs with heading and curative properties bestow by ‘secondary plant metabolites’. In the present study collection, identification and catalogue description of some medicinal plants at and around Pithoragarh, and seed germination and in-vitro propagation including callus induction and direct regeneration in R. serpentina and alkaloid estimation in both R. serpentina and R. tetraphylla. Sixty different medicinal plant species were collected,identified and kept in the Deptt. of Biological Sciences, CBSH. These plants belonged to 54 genera and 34 families 29 Dicotyledones and 5 monocotyledones. The seed germination of R.S. was found to be very poor may be due to defective embryo formation, presence of endophytic flora or cinnamic acid in seed coat. Therefore an attempt was made through in vitro propagation, by induction of callus from leaf and stem tissues and direct regeneration from apical and nodal explants. Different combinations of phytohormones i.e., 2, 4 D + BAP and IBA + BAP were examined for callus induction and direct regeneration. It was observed that the combination and concentration of IBA (0.125 mg/L) + BAP (1.0 mg/L) produced for both callus induction and direct regeneration. Alkaloids are the active principle present in Rauwolfia and are being exploited in preparation of medicines. Isolation of alkaloids was performed from mature root, stem and leaves of both R. serpentina and R. tetraphylla. After isolation, it was purified and identified with the help of chromatographic techniques TLC and HPTLC. Maximum reserpine (0.38%) was recorded in roots of R. serpentina and in R. tetraphylla it was in the leaves (0.19%).ennullThesis