Production of Plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1, 4-naphthoquinone) in Callus and Cell Suspension Cultures of <i>Plumbago indica</i> Linn.

Abstract

The relationship between growth and plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-l, 4-naphthoquinone) formation in callus and cell suspension cultures of <i>Plumbago indica </i>was investigated. Semi-friable callus was induced on young stem and leaf segments in MS solid medium containing 1.5-2.5 mgl^-1 2, 4-D plus 0.5-1.5 mgl^-1KN. Cell suspension cultures were established from stem-derived semi-friable calli and cells released from aseptic leaf segments. Quantitative analysis of plumbagin in callus and cell cultures at different periods of growth revealed an increase in concentration of plumbagin with the increase in growth of cultures. Plumbagin level in both culture systems on unit dry wt basis was same throughout the growth of callus (0.05 mg/g, dry wt) and cell cultures (0.028 mg/g, dry wt).