In Vitro Production of Phytosterols in some Medicinal Plants

Medicinal plants are the most exclusive source of life saving drugs for the majority of the world's population. Phytosterols are a group of steroid alcohols, naturally occurring in plants. In the present study production of the phytosterols from medicinally useful plants Cocculus pendulus, Moringa oleifera and Tinospora cordifolia were studied in vivo and in vitro. Plant parts (separately) and unorganized tissues of the selected plants were separately analyzed for qualitative and quantitative estimation of sterols. ß-sitosterol, stigmasterol and lanosterol in Cocculus pendulus and Tinospora cordifolia, ß-sitosterol and stigmasterol in Moringa oleifera were identified and estimated in plant parts as well as in unorganized tissue. Amount of sterols was higher in unorganized tissues than plant parts.