**3. Conservation strategies**

The local and international demand for *C. sanguinolenta* raises concerns about its continued availability especially since its root system is the part of economic importance. Conservation of plant species require the adoption of in-situ and ex-situ strategies complementing each other [41]. Ex-situ conservation strategies consist of using biotechnology-based methods such as tissue culture, cryopreservation and molecular diagnostics to maintain biological diversity outside a plant's natural habitat. On the other hand, in-situ conservation ensures that wild plant species are kept in their natural adaptive environment in order to ensure their maintenance and recovery in their natural habitats. The major concern with ex-situ conservation of medicinal plants is the risk of the plants losing the potency of their bioactive compounds. There is also the possibility of selecting their reproductive materials such as seeds for storage in seed banks for later use [41]. Seeds are referred to as the storehouse of plants genetic nature and a ready source of planting materials [42]. However, seeds of *C. sanguinolenta* have a low germinability which might be attributed to seed dormancy, storage conditions, inherent properties and or a thick seed coat (REF).
