Abstract
Plant tissue culture is recognized as a key tool in various research fields, especially in the area of medicinal plants. These techniques are employed for mass propagation, conservation, and production of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. There are various methods for in-vitro culture, including micropropagation, axillary bud culture, organ culture, root and callus culture, organogenesis, somatic embryogenesis, and cell suspension culture. Since cell suspension culture and callus are typically preferred for producing plant chemicals, following root and shoot cultures as well as somatic embryogenesis, these methods play a significant role in optimizing the production of secondary metabolites. However, one of the major challenges in plant tissue culture is the potential occurrence of somaclonal variation, which can result from genetic mutations or changes in epigenetic markers. These variations particularly arise in highly differentiated explants and during the callus stage. Additionally, the occurrence of somaclonal variation may pose a barrier to successful in-vitro propagation and preservation of germplasm. This issue is especially critical in cases where maintaining the genetic and biochemical characteristics of medicinal plants is important. In the present study, the potential somaclonal variations resulting from the tissue culture of medicinal plants and their implications for the production of secondary metabolites are examined and discussed. This research can contribute to a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with the use of tissue culture for the production of medicinal plants and valuable metabolites.