STEROL AND ECDYSTEROID PROFILES OF SERRATULA-TINCTORIA (L) - PLANT AND CELL-CULTURES PRODUCING STEROIDS

Cell suspension cultures have been obtained from Serratula tinctoria, a plant producing ecdysteroids. Sterol profiles and ecdysteroid conten ts have been analysed and compared in plants and cell cultures. In par ticular, the composition of free and esterified sterols was investigat ed using appropriate analytical techniques. In plants, esterified ster ols were more abundant (50-70% of the total sterol) than in cell cultu res (13-36%). A selectivity for sterol esterification was noted: in pl ants, the triterpenes (as amyrins) were esterified, whereas it was the 4-desmethylsterols (sitosterol and cholesterol) in cell cultures. Ecd ysteroids were present in higher quantities in plant (0.1-1.2% dry wt) than in cell cultures (0.01-0.03%). Analysis confirmed the presence o f 20-hydroxyecdysone, 20-hydroxyecdysone-3-acetate and polypodine B as the main compounds. Roots were not only the richest organ in ecdyster oids, but also in cholesterol, lathosterol and 24-methylene-cholestero l. The results obtained suggest interesting relationships between free or esterified sterols and ecdysteroid contents.