Cell cultures of Rauwolfia sellowii: growth and alkaloid production

Callus and cell suspension cultures of Rauwolfia sellowii were established in Gamborg B5 medium supplemented with 1 mg l(-1) 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 0.2 mg l(-1) kinetin and 30 g l(-1) sucrose. The growth cycle of sus pension cultures was completed in ca. 22 days and the maximum specific grow th rate was 0.0098 h(-1) with a doubling time of 71 h. The cultures accumul ated the same major alkaloids as in the leaves of the parent plant, such as sellowiine, 19 alpha,20 alpha-epoxyakuammicine, vomilenine, picrinine and 12-demethoxytabernulosine. The alkaloid contents of leaves, callus and cell suspension cultures were quantitatively compared by HPLC.