Monitoring the production yields of vincristine and vinblastine in Catharanthus roseus from somatic embryogenesis. Semiquantitative determination by flow-injection electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A semiquantitative determination of two bis-indole antitumor alkaloids, vin cristine and vinblastine, has been performed by flow-injection electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of the extracts of Catharanthus ros eus. Leaves and flowers of two different phenotypes (pink flower and white flower) obtained from somatic embryogenesis were thus examined and compared with the field-grown mother plant. Different amounts of vincristine and vi nblastine were detected depending on the examined samples. Copyright (C) 20 01 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.