REVIEW PAPER
In vitro cultures of carnivorous plants from the Drosera and Dionaea genus for the production of biologically active secondary metabolites

Carnivorous plants belong to endangered species. Due to agricultural development, natural populations of these

plants are diminishing. The herbal and ornamental value of these species has also led to their over-collection.

The Drosera genus is a natural source of pharmacologically important compounds (e.g. naphthoquinones, flavonoids,

anthocyanins, phenolic compounds) used as substrates in the production of pharmaceuticals. Droserae herba

has been in use as an expectorant, diuretic and antispasmodic agent. In recent years, the bacteriostatic and antitumour

activity of Drosera extracts has been reported. Carnivorous plants have become an important ornamental

element in botanical garden collections. This fact, as well as the low propagation rate in their natural environment,

is the reason for the in vitro propagation of carnivorous plants. From a single plant cultivated in vitro many

genetically identical clonal lines can be obtained through vegetative propagation. This technique allows for the

increase in the propagation rate of valuable plant material. Additionally, the use of biotic and abiotic elicitors

increases the synthesis of pharmacologically active compounds (bactericidal, bacteriostatic activity and cytotoxic

activity). Elicitors play a significant role in the production of secondary metabolites. They induce defense responses

in plants, which leads to the accumulation of secondary metabolites. In some cases, compounds not synthesized

normally by plants in their natural environment are produced upon elicitation. Elicitors induce the biosynthesis

of enzymes which take part in the production of secondary metabolites.