title: Ecballium elaterium: an in vitro source of cucurbitacins.
abstract: Biomass and secondary metabolite accumulation were assayed on a wide range of auxins, cytokinins and their combinations using Ecballium elaterium callus tissue. The best combination was that consisting of alpha-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and benzylamino purine (BAP) (1 mg/l of medium, each). NAA and BAP were set up in a grid to determine concentrations that produced the best callus as regards fresh and dry weights and yield of cucurbitacins, particularly cucurbitacin E. The best combination for callus proliferation consisted of 5 mg/l NAA and 5 mg/l BAP, reaching a peak at week 5. For cucurbitacin production, an optimum yield was obtained at week 3 with 5 mg/l NAA.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agriculture, University of Malta, Msida, MSD06, Malta. eattl@di-ve.com
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Attard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scicluna-Spiteri
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019662:Cucurbitaceae; D054728:Cucurbitacins; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014315:Triterpenes; D054728:Cucurbitacins