Chemical induced production and release of alkaloids from hairy root cultures of Catharanthus roseus var. Nirmal

Abstract

Hairy root cultures of Catharanthus roseus var. nirmal were treated with chitosan (10, 100 and 1000 mg/l), Tween 20 (0.5, 1 and 2% v/v) and dimethylsulfoxide (0.1, 0.5 and 1% v/v) to stimulate the release of intracellular indole alkaloids. The chemicals when used individually, however, did not induce the release of secondary metabolites but enhanced their production significantly by 1.6 to 2.7 fold when compared to control cultures. When the roots were subjected to the combined action of the chemical compounds, a dramatic effect was seen on the release as well as on the production of alkaloids. Prominent effect was seen on the release of serpentine, namely about 27% (1.18 mg/l) of the total amount (4.36 mg/l) was found in the medium.

Keywords: alkaloids, Catharanthus roseus var. nirmal, permeabilization, hairy root cultures, HPLC analysis

Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Journal Vol. 23 2005: 31-38