Callus cultures of Genista plants—in vitro material producing high amounts of isoflavones of phytoestrogenic activity

• Published in: Plant science (Limerick) Vol. 165; no. 5; pp. 1101 - 1108
• Main Authors: Luczkiewicz, M, Glod, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.11.2003; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: 2,4-D; Biological and medical sciences; biosynthesis; Biotechnology; callus culture; culture media; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genista aethnensis; Genista germanica; Genista monospessulana; Genista radiata; Genista sagittalis; Genista species; Genista tinctoria; genistin; herbaceous plants; HPLC; In vitro cultures; in vitro regeneration; Isoflavones; kinetin; light; Light influence; Media influence; plant estrogens; Plant physiology and development; sucrose; Tissue cultures, protoplasts; Media influence; NN, Nitsch and Nitsch [Planta 72 355]; PVP, polyvinylpyrolidone; Genista species; SH, Schenk and Hildebrandt [Can. J. Bot. 50 199]; G i, growth index; Light influence; MC, Mc Cown [Hort. Sci. 16 453]; MS, Murashige and Skoog [Physiol. Plant. 15 475]; HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography; In vitro cultures; G-5, Gamborg [Exp. Cell Res. 50 151]; FW, fresh weight; DW, dry weight; Mill, Miller [Moderne Methoden der Pflanzenanalyse 6 194]; 2,4-D, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; HPLC; Isoflavones; GA 3, gibberelic acid; Callus; Tissue culture; Gensita species; Isoflavone derivatives; Optimization; Phytoestrogen; Leguminosae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Production; Spermatophyta
• DOI: 10.1016/S0168-9452(03)00305-4
• ISSN: 0168-9452

Callus cultures of six Genista species were established with the objective to produce isoflavones of phytoestrogenic activity. The cultures were optimised for their growth and isoflavonoid production by changing various media in the presence or absence of light. The best growth and the highest isoflavone production was obtained under constant light regime on SH basal medium containing 22.6 μmol l −1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 23.2 μmol l −1 kinetin and 3% w/v of sucrose. Callus cultures of all species produced more isoflavones than the parent herbs. The isoflavonoid group produced was composed of 14 compounds with a clear domination of genistin. In vitro cultures had lower contents of genistein esters than the herbs—possible causes are discussed. The callus with the highest isoflavone content was obtained from Genista tinctoria, producing 6586.5 mg of total isoflavones per 100 g DW, in which HPLC analysis identified 3016.3 mg of genistin.