EFFECT OF AUXIN AND CYTOKININ ON VINCRISTINE PRODUCTION BY CALLUS CULTURES OF CATHARANTHUS ROSEUS L. (APOCYNACEAE)

Abstract

Callus cultures of Catharanthus roseus L. were established to verify whether they produce vincristine as the intact plant. Different growth regulator combinations were applied to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium to influence the level of production of vincristine. The effects of various combinations (0.5 µM to 3.0 µM) of auxin and cytokinin on the growth and accumulation of vincristine were investigated. MS medium supplemented with 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) 1.0 µM and 6-furfurylaminopurine (Kinetin) 1.0 µM was used to support the growth of callus cultures and the maximum amount of dry biomass (598.04 mg) was produced after seven weeks of culture. High performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of methanol extracts from callus cultures of C. roseus revealed that the cultures produced vincristine. The concentrations of the growth regulators alpha-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and kinetin played a critical role in the production of vincristine.