Effect of Some Phytohormones on Podophyllotoxin Production in Cell and Plantlets Cultures of Linum album

Abstract

The natural lignan podophyllotoxin, a dimerized product of two phenylpropanoid moieties which occurs in a few plant species, is a pharmacologically important compound for its anticancer activities. Optimization of the <em>in vitro</em> cultures might lead to a renewable source of lignans for medicinal uses. In order to maximize efficiency of podophyllotoxin accumulation via <em>in vitro</em> cultures, the effect of different concentrations of α-Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (0, 0.4 and 1 mg/l), Kinetin (Kin) (0, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/l) and combinations of NAA and Kin [(0.4 and 0.2), (0.4 and 0.4), (1 and 0.2) and (1 and 0.4) mg/l] on growth and accumulation of podophyllotoxin in callus, cell culture and <em>in vitro</em> propagated plantlets of <em>Linum album </em>was evaluated. The highest growth and accumulation of podophyllotoxin in callus culture was obtained when it grown under dark condition in comparison to photoperiod. The biomass of cell and callus do not changed under various hormone concentrations. Content of podophyllotoxin was enhanced in cell and callus cultures supplemented with NAA 1 mg/l + Kin 0.4 mg/l. The experiments demonstrated Kin 0.2 or 0.4 mg/l stimulated multiplication and production of podophyllotoxin in shoot culture.