J. Plant Biochemistry & Biotechnology Vol. 12, 65-69, January 2003 Celastrus paniculatus Willd (Celastraceae) commonly known as Malkangni, Jyotishmati, Bitter Sweet, is an important Indian medicinal, deciduous, forest climber seen growing mostly in the hilly regions of northern India at an altitude of 1250 meters (1). The plant has a distribution range in the sub-Himalayan region from Jhelum eastward upto 1875 meters throughout hilly parts of Bombay, South of Gujarat, Central India, Madras, Ceylon, Burma, Malay Peninsula and Archipelago, and is used primarily in the treatment of mental disorders (2). Phytochemical investi- gations have revealed the presence of sesquiterpenoids of β dihydrogenic series in the seed oil (3). The oil extracted from the seeds has tranquilizing, sedative, anticonvulsant activities besides being a central muscle relaxant, anti- inflammatory, antipyretic, antiemetic, antiulcerogenic, analgesic and adaptogen with memory enhancing properties (4). In Indian traditional system of medicine, Celastrus is used as an appetizer, laxative, emetic, aphrodisiac, brain tonic but is also good for cough, asthma, leprosy, gout, various fevers, headaches, leucoderma, and rheumatism. The bark is reported to have abortifacient activity. It is one of the components of the drug “Mentat Syrup” recommended for memory enhancing and mental disorders. More recently, it has been reported to be an antidepressant (5). The conventional method of propagation of Celastrus paniculatus is through seeds. Poor seed viability and germination restricts their use in multiplication (6). In addition, indiscriminate over- exploitation from natural sources to meet the growing demand by pharmaceutical industry coupled with low seed germinability, lack of vegetative propagation methods and insufficient attempts for replenishment of wild stock of this medicinally important plant species have contributed to its threatened status (7). Realizing the threat of extinction there is a need to develop quick propagation protocols and conservation strategies. In recent years, induction of multiple shoots and complete plantlets from tissue cultures of many rare, endangered, aromatic and medicinal plants have been reported (8, 9). Regeneration in Celastrus paniculatus utilizing nodal and apical shoots tip as an explant has been reported recently (10, 11).The present communication describes plant regeneration through adventitious shoot formation via embryo-derived callus in C. paniculatus. The adventitious shoots were multiplied with high frequency and better shoot elongation. These could be rooted and utilized to get regeneration of complete plants. Mature fruits of C. paniculatus Willd were collected during the month of October from plants growing in Herbal Garden at RRL, Jammu. Seeds were separated from the pulp, washed under running tap water for 30 min, dried Short Communication Regeneration of Plantlets via Callus Cultures in Celastrus paniculatus Willd-A Rare Endangered Medicinal Plant † M Sharada, Ashok Ahuja* and M K Kaul Plant Tissue Culture Unit, Regional Research Laboratory (CSIR), Jammu Tawi 180 001, India Plantlet regeneration in Celastrus paniculatus Willd (Celastraceae), an endangered medicinal plant has been achieved from cotyledonary leaf-derived callus. The cotyledonary leaves from mature embryo callused on MS medium supplemented with NAA (5 x 10 –6 M) and Kinetin (5 x 10 –6 M) with a doubling time of 16.2 days. Well developed multiple shoots of 5.6 cm could be obtained via organogenesis within 28 days on MS + BA (2 x 10 –5 M). Altered shoot morphology occurred with the change in the concentration of auxins and cytokinins. Rooting (85%) of isolated shoots was achieved on McCown medium (WPM) containing IBA (5 x 10 –6 M). Rooted plantlets were transferred in small pots containing sand, garden soil and vermiculite mix. The procedure can serve as a reliable and reproducible protocol for propagation and ex situ conservation of this species. Key words: Celastrus paniculatus, Celastraceae, Malkangni, organogenesis. *Corresponding author. E-mail: ashoksahuja@rediffmail.com † RRL Contribution No. 2355