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Background The medicinal plants have been used as alternative treatments for many diseases in many countries. Thus, the possibility of the alteration of some naturally relatively cheap sources into highly valuable products for pharmaceutical and biological importance via tissue culture is investigated in this study. Special attention is needed to estimate the molecular genetic variation between the studied plant and the callus. Results Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) rhizome was affected by various concentrations of cytokinin and auxin for the induction of callus. The highest percentage of callus induction and maximal callus fresh weight was achieved when Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was supplemented with 2 mg/l 2, 4-D + 1mg/l BA. The genetic variations accompanied with in vitro conditions of callus induction was evaluated by four primers of inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) that amplified 36 bands. The highest readings for clotting times were found by using the sulfated neutral extract of ginger rhizome at a concentration of 400 μg/ml, and the extract of sulfated alkaline plant callus had an anticoagulation activity at (200 μg/ml) comparable to that of a standard preparation of heparin sodium. Conclusion These results showed that ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) rhizome was affected by various concentrations of cytokinin and auxin for induction of callus especially when MS was supplemented with 2 mg/l 2, 4-D + 1 mg/l BA. Also, the results of ISSR markers confirmed the occurrence of genetic variations during callus induction process. The results indicated that the sulfated alkaline of ginger rhizome and sulfated aqueous extracts of ginger rhizome and callus exhibited anticoagulant activity. So, it was clear that the addition of sulfate group into the investigated extracts enhances the anticoagulation activities.

Licorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra ) is the rhizome and root known as sweet wood. Two varieties of Glycyrrhiza (var. glabra and var. glandulifera ) were studied. The major objective of this study was to establish callus induction on Glycyrrhiza and to assess the molecular genetic variation between the mother plants and their calli using ISSR markers. Calli were formed from leaves of Glycyrrhiza cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with combinations of various concentrations of auxins and cytokinins. The highest callus induction and callus fresh weight of 2 varieties tested were obtained on a medium containing 0.5 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid with 1mg/l 1-naphthalene acetic acid and 0.5 mg/l kinetin. Genomic DNA was isolated from plants and calli using cetyltriethyl ammonium bromide method and amplified by PCR using ISSR primers. The results showed the presence of genetic variations at the DNA level during in vitro culture between callus and mother plants.