The effect of in vitro co-cultivation of Cephaelis ipecacuanha, Eclipta alba and Oryza sativa on plant development and yield of emetine, wedelolactone and demethylwedelolactone

Co-cultures of different plantlets were carried out in order to evaluate gr owth and accumulation of secondary metabolites in the selected species. Pla ntlets of Cephaelis ipecacuanha, Eclipta alba and Oryza sativa were grouped according to a selection of associations and densities. At the end of the co-cultivation period plantlets were evaluated for shoot height and prolife ration, fresh and dry weight and also emetine, wedelolactone and demethylwe delolactone contents. The association of 3 E. alba plantlets only promoted higher production of drug (.04 mg/g demethyl wedelolactone; 0.30 mg/g wedel olactone). The co-cultivation of 3 plantlets of E. alba associated with one C. ipecacuanha produced higher emetine content (1,29 mg), and a three-fold biomass increase of ipecac.