Benzophenanthridine Alkaloids from Callus Cultures of Toddalia Asiatica
Benzophenenathridine alkaloids nitidine and chelerythrine production from callus cultures of Toddalia asiatica was investigated. Callus cultures were initiated on Murashige and Skoogs medium fortified with different hormonal combinations. Nitidine and chelerythrine levels in callus culture extracts was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and was found that medium supplemented with 2,4 (0.5 mg/l) + BA (1 mg/l) accumu-lated significant amount of nitidine and chelerythrine than any other phytomormonal combination employed. An attempt was also made to compare high performance liquid chromatography and HPTLC analysis for secondary metabolite estimation. Production of secondary metabolites through callus cultures may serve as a best alternate system and optimization of media will result in improved yield of secondary metabolites.