Production of tumour-inhibitory lignans in callus cultures of Podophyllum hexandrum.
Callus cultures have been established from root explants of aseptically-grown Podophyllum hexandrum seedlings. A fully defined medium based on Gamborg's B5 salts supplemented with 2/4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, gibberellic acid and 6-benzylaminopurine was effective for both initiation and sustained growth of callus tissue. Cultures produced anticancer lignans podophyllotoxin, 4'-demethylpodophyllotoxin and podophyllotoxin 4-O-glucoside at levels similar to those found in the expiant material as assayed by high performance liquid chromatography. The relative proportions of podophyllotoxin and 4'-demethyl-podophyllotoxin were markedly influenced by the presence of plant growth regulators. Particularly high levels of podophyllotoxin were associated with growth regulator induced tissue differentiation.
Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Botany, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, Nottingham, UK.
A G
AG
Heyenga
J A
JA
Lucas
P M
PM
Dewick