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Background Plants are the repository of variable number of valuable secondary metabolites that bears pharmacognostic and pharmacological implications having potentiality to emerge as super drugs in future. In-vivo production of these metabolites is influenced by the biotic and abiotic stresses resulting in continuous accumulation of diverse phytochemicals and their derivatives that can be useful in designing and developing potential drugs for future. The aim of the present study is to review the existence of medicinally important secondary metabolites and possible pharmacological and pharmacognostic importance of under-explored weed plant species Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit., to explore the potentiality of the plant for developing and designing the drugs for future. Main body of the abstract Hyptis suaveolens belonging to family Lamiaceae is the rich source of medicinally important phytochemicals like essential oils, tannins, saponins, phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and sterols. One or many of these compounds have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, anti-septic, anti-cancer, anti-ulcer, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-diabetic, anti-fertility, diaphoretics, anticutaneous, anticatarrhal, antirheumatic, anti-ulcer, gastroprotective, immunomodulatory, analgesic, and antiviral activity. Short conclusion Hyptis suaveolens contains unique terpenoid metabolites like suaveolic acid, suaveolol, methyl suaveolate, beta-sitosterol, ursolic acid, and phenolic compound like rosamarinic acid, methyl rosamarinate that have potentiality to substitute the traditional drugs as therapeutic agent against the resistant and newly emerged bacterial and viral pathogens. Pentacyclic triterpenoid, ursolic acid have been reported to have effective antiviral response against the SARS-CoV2 responsible for the present COVID-19 pandemic and HIV virus for which no effective vaccines are available till date. Ursolic acid has the ability to modulate the activity of main protease (Mpro) that is essential for processing of SARS-CoV2 replicase-transcriptase machinery needed for viral replication and particle assembly.

Phytochemicals are secondary metabolites produced by all plants in which some has medicinal uses. The comparative Qualitative and Quantitative phytochemical analysis of root extracts in aqueous, Chloroform, Ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of Calotropis gigantea and calotropis procera Linn. were investigated. The comparative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, phenols group in varying concentrations. The comparative studies result of the above two plants gives a basis of its use in traditional medicine to manage ailments and disorders. It also contains some biologically active constituents worthy of further investigations. Keywords: Comparative, Qualitative, Quantitative, phytochemical, Calotropis gigantea and calotropis procera Â

In Withania somnifera, sterol molecules of immense medicinal value are diversified by means of glycosylation. Identifying sterol glycosyltransferases provides an imperative insight of diverse sterol modifications, thereby helping to comprehend the underlying plant mechanisms. In the present study, one of the W. somnifera sterol glycosyltransferase-4 (Ws-Sgtl4) gene was transformed into the W. somnifera leaf explant through Agrobacterium rhizogene. Transformed W. Somnifera Ws-Sgtl4 leaf explants were subjected to hairy root induction and analyzed for biomass accumulation. The analysis of Ws-Sgtl4 gene expression was performed at different time exposures with the application of salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate. The elicitation of W. somnifera hairy root expressing the Ws-Sgtl4 gene was also evaluated for the enhancement if any, in the total withanolide yield as well as the withanolides-A contents. The results suggested that Ws-Sgtl4 gene expression enhanced the production of total withanolide yield and withanolides-A in the hairy root culture of W. somnifera in the response to the elicitors.

Sterol glycosyltransferases (SGTs) catalyze the transfer of sugar molecules to diverse sterol molecules, leading to a change in their participation in cellular metabolism. Withania somnifera is a medicinal plant rich in sterols, sterol glycosides and steroidal lactones. Sterols and their modified counterparts are medicinally important and play a role in adaptation of the plant to stress conditions. We have identified 3 members of SGT gene family through RACE (Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends) in addition to sgtl1 reported earlier. The amino acid sequence deduced from the ORF's showed homology (45-67 %) to the reported plant SGTs. The expression of the genes was differentially modulated in different organs in W. somnifera and in response to external stimuli. Salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate treatments showed up to 10 fold increase in the expression of sgt genes suggesting their role in defense. The level of expression increased in heat and cold stress indicating the role of sterol modifications in abiotic stress. One of the members, was expressed in E. coli and the enzyme assay showed that the crude enzyme glycosylated stigmasterol. W. somnifera expresses a family of sgt genes and there is a functional recruitment of these genes under stress conditions. The genes which are involved in sterol modification are important in view of medicinal value and understanding stress.

A variant plant of opium poppy ( Papaver somniferum L.) having high thebaine was obtained from the dose of 10 kR (kilo rad) + 0.4% EMS during an extensive mutation breeding experiment. The M 2 seeds of variant plant were subjected to in vitro studies to investigate the prospects of thebaine production through tissue culture. Alkaloid profile of variant showed higher thebaine in stem followed by leaf callus, stem callus and cotyledons. Such a high content of thebaine from tissue raised plant material opens a new vista for the extraction of thebaine at commercial level. A comparison was also made between in vivo and in vitro cost of production and extraction of thebaine.

Calotropis gigantea , R.Br. is a plant with clusters of flowers of white or lavender colour. They grow widely in Singapore, China, Thailand, Malay Islands and Sri Lanka. In India, the shrubs are very common and grow widely in compounds of temples and other waste lands. It is called as Madar. Large shrub or small tree up to 4-10 m tall, much-branched at base, stems erect, up to 20 cm in diameter; bark pale grey, longitudinally cracked; young shoots woolly hairy; latex in all parts. The White Madar plants are very slow growing but are fleshy in nature especially the leaves and stems. The latex, leaves, flowers, barks and roots of this plant are used as potential remedy for the treatment of a range of ailments. C. gigantea contain chemical constituents are cardenolides, flavonoids, terpenes, pregnanes and a non-protein amino acid. The plant has been used for various disease condition including leprosy, ulcers, tumours and piles. Various pharmacological activities reported like Analgesic activity, Antipyretic activity, Pregnancy interceptive activity, CNS activity, Anti-inflammatory activity, Procoagulant activity, Anti-diarrhoeal activity, free redical scavenging activity, Antimicrobial Activity, Anti-tumor activity, Antifungal activity, Antitussive activity, and Antifeedent activity. In view of this the present study was investigated to review the phytochemistry, pharmacological activity, medicinal properties and biological properties of Calotropis gigantea .