Abstract:
Andrographis paniculata is one of the most important “Southern Medicines” in China.
It is used for clearing heat and detoxifying, cooling blood and reducing swelling. Its main active
ingredient, andrographolide, functions in anti-cancer, anti-HIV, anti-inflammation and liver
protection. It is difficult to be synthesized artificially, mainly relying on extraction from cultivated
plant materials. However, the quality of cultivated medicinal materials is affected by various
factors such as soil, climate, water and fertilizer management. On the other hand, A. paniculata
has a long growth cycle, occupying land resources. The technology of plant in vitro culture has
significant advantages in rapid propagation of seedling and accumulation of active ingredients,
which is one of the important ways to achieve production of active ingredients rapidly and efficiently in A. paniculata. The in vitro regeneration technology system of A. paniculata is
becoming more and more perfect, and the in vitro regeneration technology from explants to
complete plants is becoming more and more mature, it has been applied in seedling propagation
and ploidy breeding. At the same time, during callus culture, cell suspension culture, adventitic
root culture and hairy root culture of A. paniculata, the accumulation of andrographolide and other
active ingredients in the culture things could be greatly increased by optimizing the culture
conditions and using appropriate inducers. This paper comprehensively and systematically
reviewed the research advances in the technology of in vitro culture of A. paniculata and
production of andrographolide from the aspects of tissue culture, cell culture, adventitious root
culture, and hairy root culture. This paper aimed to provide reference for promoting the
development and application of in vitro culture technology of A. paniculata, as well as for the
study of in vitro production of andrographolide. It also put forward three aspects that need be
focused on in future research on in vitro culture technology of A. paniculata and the production of
andrographolides by this technology: (1) to mature and improve the tissues in vitro regeneration
technology system of A. paniculata, and establish a comprehensive and systematic evaluation
system; (2) to further increase the yield of andrographolide and other important active ingredients
by optimizing the culture conditions and its combination with efficient inducers; and (3) to carry
out researches in bioreactor culture of the production of andrographolide by cell suspension
culture technology.