title: Alkaloid production by callous tissue cultures of Cereus peruvianus (Cactaceae).
abstract: The morphologically undifferentiated cells of nonregenerant callous tissue of Cereus peruvianus cultured in the original medium and in medium supplemented with tyrosine were used as an alkaloid source. Comparison of alkaloid production by C. peruvianus plants and by callous tissues indicated that alkaloid levels were almost twice as high in callous tissues as in shoots of C. peruvianus plants. The ratio of alkaloid concentration between mature plant and morphologically undifferentiated cells of callous tissue was 1:1.7. A relationship between culture medium containing tyrosine and alkaloid production was also observed in the callous tissues of C. peruvianus. Since increased alkaloid production may be induced by additional factors such as tyrosine, increasing levels of tyrosine or other conditions of the culture medium may be considered factors for inducing higher alkaloid production by C. peruvianus callous tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, State University of Maringá, 87020-900 Maringa PR Brazil.
authors.forename: Arildo José Braz
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Maria Fátima Pires da Silva
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Machado
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D029421:Cactaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014443:Tyrosine