ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Production of camptothecin in the elicited callus cultures of Nothapodytes nimmoniana (J. Graham) Mabberly

Tasiu Isah

Cellular Differentiation and Molecular Genetics Section, Department of Botany, Hamdard University, New Delhi, India

E-mail: taasmore@yahoo.co.uk

Abstract: The biotechnological approach of in vitro cultures elicitation offers an alternative strategy for the production of camptothecin (CPT) in Nothapodytes nimmoniana to mitigate indiscriminate harvest of the endangered natural population for the alkaloid. Yeast extract (YE) and vanadyl sulfate (VS) elicitors were used to enhance the biosynthesis of CPT in hypocotyl-derived callus cultures of N. nimmoniana by cultivation using solid and liquid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium amended with NAA + BAP (2.0 + 1.0 mg L⁻¹). Effects of the two elicitors on biomass and CPT production at 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 75 mg L⁻¹ concentrations using callus cultures from three cell lines were evaluated after 15, 30 and 45 days culture. Yeast extract elicitor treatments showed a linear enhancement effect on biomass and CPT production up to 50 mg L⁻¹ YE and beyond the concentrations, no significant effect was observed. Enhanced biomass and CPT production were achieved with VS elicitor up to 25 mg L⁻¹ concentrations but, 50 and 75 mg L⁻¹ VS had minimal effects on biomass and CPT production in callus sources and incubation duration-dependent manner. The intracellular yield of CPT in liquid media-cultivated cultures at concentrations of the two elicitors was lower when compared to solid media treatments relative control due to the extracellular accumulation but, higher overall production. Accumulation of the biomass showed association with produced CPT in the elicitor treatments and control cultures.

Keywords: Camptothecin; Elicitation; Yeast extract; Vanadyl sulfate; Nothapodytes nimmoniana; Chromatography

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-016-0056-9

Chemical Papers 71 (6) 1091–1106 (2017)