Establishment of a plantation from micropropagated Arnica chamissonis a pharmaceutical substitute for the endangered A-montana

Arnica montana L., like many endangered species, does not give stable yield s in commercial plantations. Other Arnica species were investigated for the ir pharmaceutical activity and A. chamissonis Less., was confirmed as a pha rmaceutical substitute for A. montana, extracts having on average 40% highe r inhibition of lipoxygenase activity and reduction of superoxide and hydro xyl free radicles on a tissue dry weight basis. A micropropagation protocol was established for A. chammisonis and a plantation of 10,050 plants was e stablished with 0.9% microplant loss at the weaning stage. The plantation i s now in commercial production.