Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of a biologically active phenolic compound (+) catechin from Taxus wallichiana tissue cultures, said process comprising the steps of (a) inoculating the of explants on a culture medium supplemented with combinations of auxins and cytokinins, (b) incubating the cultures under continuous light or dark conditions for 4-6 weeks for callus initiation followed by subculturing at 4-6 weeks intervals, (c) extracting the fresh pulverized calli with polar solvents at room temperature; (d) evaporating the solvent to obtain a residue; and (e) treating the residue with a chlorinated solvent and isolating (+) catechin compound by filtration.

Abstract: A bio-reactor for enhancing the biomass yield using a closed sterile vessel having a medium, said reactor comprising a central shaft, a support matrix oriented horizontally and dividing the vessel into an upper and a lower chamber, a means for stirring selected from turbine-2,4,6-impeller; marine blade impeller; helical blade impeller; mounted onto the central shaft and located at a predetermined distance from the support matrix so as to generate both radially and axially directed volumetric flow of the media; and at least two semi-circular spargers located both in the upper and lower compartments of the vessel at a predetermined distance from the support matrix.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new, distinct and unique plant of rose scented geranium Pelargonium graveolens ‘Safal’ derived from the spontaneous half-sib seed progeny of largely sterile populations of the cultivar accession ‘Bipuli’, possessing the following combination of characteristics namely demonstrated vigour in the essential oil yield related traits in great measure and out yielded all the other accessions; the essential oil of the plant has 89% rhodinol content in which citronellol to geraniol ratio is approximately 1:1 and the contents of isomenthone, menthone, 10-epi-&ggr;-eudesmol, 6,9-guaiadiene, decanoic acid and isodecanoic acid were relatively lower than in the oils of accessions ‘Bipuli’ and/or ‘Hemanti’, this plant can be propagated vegetatively through stem cuttings and suitable for commercial cultivation in large scale.

Abstract: A bio-reactor for enhancing the biomass yield using a closed sterile vessel having a medium, said reactor comprising a central shaft, a support matrix oriented horizontally and dividing the vessel into an upper and a lower chamber, a means for stirring selected from turbine-2,4,6-impeller; marine blade impeller; helical blade impeller; mounted onto the central shaft and located at a predetermined distance from the support matrix so as to generate both radially and axially directed volumetric flow of the media; and at least two semi-circular sparges located both in the upper and lower compartments of the vessel at a predetermined distance from the support matrix.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of a compound (+) catechin penta acetate of formula I from Taxus wallichiana tissue cultures which comprises : (a) inoculation of explants on different media compositions supplemented with combinations of auxins (1-5 mg/l) and cytokinins (0.1-1.0 mg/l); (b) incubation of the cultures under continuous light or dark conditions for 4-6 weeks for callus cultures followed by subculturing at 4-6 weeks intervals; (c) harvesting of the calli at different growth phases ranging from 12-36 months; (d) extraction of fresh pulverized calli with polar solvents at room temperature; (e) evaporating the solvent to give a residue; and partitioning of the residue between water and chlorinated solvents and evaporating the solvent to a semisolid mass; (f) subjecting the resultant mass to column chromatography over suitable adsorbent and (g) eluting with organic solvent/mixtures of organic solvents to get (+) catechin penta acetate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new, distinct and unique plant of rose scented geranium Pelargonium graveolens ‘Safal’ derived from a rare seed-set in cultivar ‘Bipuli,’ apparently the result of hybridization between largely sterile populations of the cultivar accessions ‘Bipuli’ and ‘Hemanti’, possessing the following combination of characteristics namely demonstrated vigour in the essential oil yield related traits in great measure and out yielded all the other accessions; the essential oil of the plant has 89% rhodinol content in which citronellol to geraniol ratio is approximately 1:1 and the contents of isomenthone, menthone, 10-epi-&ggr;-eudesmol, 6,9-guaiadiene, decanoic acid and isodecanoic acid were relatively lower than in the oils of accessions ‘Bipuli’ and/or ‘Hemanti’, this plant can be propagated vegetatively through stem cuttings and suitable for commercial cultivation in large scale.

Abstract: A new and distinct somaclone of rose scented geranium Pelargonium graveolens christened ‘Parimal’ characterized by distinct morphology and improved oil yield determining parameters.