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DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-11494
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
In Vitro Propagation of Withania somnifera and Isolation of Withanolides with Immunosuppressive Activity
Publication History
March 23, 2000
May 1, 2000
Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)
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Abstract
Withania somnifera plantlets were produced in vitro from the shoot-tip of aseptically germinated seedlings. Culture conditions were optimized using different plant growth regulators which gave rise to 120 shoots from a single bud. The plantlets were then transferred to pots and maintained in greenhouse for 4 months. 90 % of these in vitro propagated plantlets survived and showed normal growth. Leaves from these plants were used for isolation of the withanolides. Methanolic extract of leaves from plantlets growing in tissue culture and those transferred to the greenhouse were evaluated for immunomodulatory activity. While the extract from greenhouse samples showed potent immunosuppressive activity, those from tissue cultures samples did not show any activity. Fractionation and characterization of withanolides, using HPLC, NMR, MS methods revealed the presence of withaferin A in the greenhouse samples. Our results indicate that Withania species may require longer time and better differentiation and also natural environment for the production of withaferin A.
Abbreviations
2,4-D:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
BA:6-Benzyladenine
IBA:Indole-3-butyric acid
IAA:Indole-3-acetic acid
K:Kinetin
AS:Adenine sulfate
Key words
Withania somnifera - Solanaceae - withaferin A - plant tissue culture - immunomodulation activity
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Prof. Dr. Mirosława Furmanowa
Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany
The Medical University of Warsaw
Banacha Str. 1
02-097 Warsaw
Poland
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