title: Production of withaferin A in shoot cultures of Withania somnifera.
abstract: Multiple shoot cultures of Withania somnifera were established from single shoot tip explants and their potential for the production of two principle withanolides, withaferin A and withanolide D was investigated. Shoot tips grown on MS medium supplemented with BA (1 mg l(-1)) induced 10.0 +/- 1.15 microshoots per explants and shoot cultures accumulated both withanolides (withaferin A = 0.04%, withanolide D = 0.06%). Supplementation of MSSM (solid) agar medium with 4% sucrose enhanced accumulation of both withaferin A (0.16%) and withanolide D (0.08%). Reduction of the agar concentration to 0.16% increased the number of microshoots induced per explant to 25.5. MSSM liquid medium containing 10% coconut milk favoured a maximum increase in biomass (27 fold); number of microshoots induced (37.6 +/- 1.45) as well as accumulation of withaferin A (0.14%).
authors.affiliation: Centre of Advanced Study, Department of Botany, Calcutta University, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jha
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000362:Agar; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007701:Kinetin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D011687:Purines; D019657:Solanaceae / Q000378:metabolism*; D054358:Withanolides
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D003470:Culture Media; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D011687:Purines; D054358:Withanolides; C010376:withanolide D; D002244:Carbon; D000362:Agar; D000225:Adenine; C480551:benzylaminopurine; C009684:withaferin A; D007701:Kinetin; D004875:Ergosterol