Harpagophytum procubens: Ex-situ propagation and amplified quality production

Harpagophytum , a medicinal plant native to the Kalahari desert, has become a popular alternative medicine in Europe. The plant is now a recognized medicine. Once gathered by the local Bushmen to relieve various symptoms, it is now harvested and exported on a large scale to Europe. There have been several reports of a serious decline in populations of this species due to unsustainable harvesting. Our study therefore aims to demonstrate the possibility of producing Harpagophytum tubers without harvesting in endemic areas. An in vitro Harpagophytum culture trial was undertaken. After decontamination, the seeds were placed on a Murashige and Skoog [ 1 ] medium (MS). After germination, propagation tests of the germinated plants (70 genotypes) were carried out on different MS media containing different concentrations of growth regulators such as BAP and ANA. The rooting of all the genotypes was initiated on MS 1/2 medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l of IBA in order to continue our study with ex-vitro acclimatization and the growth of potted plants in greenhouses. An initial one-year culture trial in 1-litre pots was carried out to select genotypes that regularly produced at least one primary tuber. The following year, a 2-year greenhouse growth trial was carried out with 14 selected genotypes.The plants were removed from the pots and the number of primary and secondary tubers was measured. The collected tubers were dried and analyzed for harpagoside content. As a result, clonal propagation, acclimatization, and off-ground cultivation produced Harpagophytum tubers with harpagoside content exceeding European standards, reaching up to 57%. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany