CATHARANTHUS-ROSEUS CELL-CULTURES - GROWTH, ALKALOID SYNTHESIS AND ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY

Suspension cultures of Catharanthus roseus were established from three different cell lines namely, CWS, CWS-A and CWS-G on MS medium supple mented with 2,4-D (0.4 ppm). The three cell lines were cultured in gro wth and production media. Cell line CWS grown in production medium sho wed a PCV (packed cell volume) of 70% in 21 days. The cells synthesize d 0.10% ajmalicine in the production medium and the cell extract cause d a 71% decrease in blood sugar in diabetes induced rats. In growth me dium the cells showed a PCV of 97% in 21 days and produced trace amoun ts of alkaloids. The cell extracts did not show any antidiabetic activ ity. The CWS-A cell line showed a PCV of 98% in 21 days and synthesize d 0.036% ajmalicine in production medium. The extracts had no hypoglyc aemic effect. In growth medium the cells showed a 98% PCV in 21 days a nd produced trace amounts of alkaloids. The cell extract caused an 86% decrease in blood sugar. The CWS-G cell line grown in flasks failed t o synthesize significant levels of alkaloids both in growth and produc tion media. The cell extracts did not show any antidiabetic activity.