title: Arabinogalactan-proteins stimulate somatic embryogenesis and plant propagation of Pelargonium sidoides.
abstract: Root extracts of the medicinal plant Pelargonium sidoides, native to South Africa, are used globally for the treatment of common cold and cough. Due to an increasing economic commercialization of P. sidoides remedies, wild collections of root material should be accompanied by effective methods for plant propagation like somatic embryogenesis. Based on this, the influence of arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs) on somatic embryogenesis and plant propagation of P. sidoides has been investigated. High-molecular weight AGPs have been isolated from dried roots as well as from cell cultures of P. sidoides with yields between 0.1% and 0.9%, respectively. AGPs are characterized by a 1,3-linked Galp backbone, branched at C6 to 1,6-linked Galp side chains terminated by Araf and to a minor extent by GlcpA, Galp or Rhap. Treatment of explants of P. sidoides with AGPs from roots or suspension culture over 5.5 weeks resulted in effective stimulation of somatic embryo development and plant regeneration.
authors: Pharmaceutical Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Gutenbergstr. 76, 24118 Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: Stefanie.Duchow@ferring.com.
authors: Stefanie
authors: S
authors: Duchow
authors: Pharmaceutical Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Gutenbergstr. 76, 24118 Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: rdahlke@pharmazie.uni-kiel.de.
authors: Renate I
authors: RI
authors: Dahlke
authors: Pharmaceutical Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Gutenbergstr. 76, 24118 Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: tgeske@pharmazie.uni-kiel.de.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Geske
authors: Pharmaceutical Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Gutenbergstr. 76, 24118 Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: wbla@pharmazie.uni-kiel.de.
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Blaschek
authors: Pharmaceutical Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Gutenbergstr. 76, 24118 Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: bclassen@pharmazie.uni-kiel.de.
authors: Birgit
authors: B
authors: Classen
mesh_terms: D005685:Galactans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D031316:Pelargonium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D058439:Plant Somatic Embryogenesis Techniques
chemical_list: D005685:Galactans; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010940:Plant Proteins; C005653:arabinogalactan
keywords: Arabinogalactan-protein; Pelargonium sidoides; Somatic embryogenesis