DIRECT ROOT REGENERATION AND INDIRECT ORGANOGENESIS IN SILYBUM MARIANUM AND PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTIBACTERIAL STUDIES OF ITS CALLUS

S. Ahmed John and M. Koperuncholan

The morphogenic potential and free-radical scavenging activity of the medicinal plant, Silybum marianum L. (milk thistle) were investigated. Direct root regeneration and indirect organogenesis and preliminary phytochemical, antibacterial studies of its callus. From leaf explants the highly significance result was found on the NAA at 2 mg/l and KIN at 0.2 mg/l for the direct root induction and indirect organogenesis the 100% callus induction was obtained from leaf explants on 2, 4-D at 2.5 mg/l),and The 100% shoot initiation was obtained from NAA at 2 mg/l and the BAP at 1.5 mg/l and then it was transferred to the shoot elongation medium bearing the hormone concentration of GA3 at 2 mg/l. Finally, it was transferred to root induction medium bearing the hormone concentration of NAA at 2mg/l. the Preliminary Phytochemical showed the Sugar, Saponins, Amino acids, Tannins were occur in the chloroform and ethanol extracts of leaf and hypocotyl callus. More antimicrobial inhibitory activity was recorded for the gram-positive than the gram negative in all extract.