The Use of Organic and Inorganic Compounds to Increase the Accumulation of Indole Alkaloids in Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don Cell Suspension Cultures

Abstract

Smith, J. I, Smart, N. J., Kurz, W. G. W. and Misawa, M. 1987. The use of organic and inorganic compounds to increase the accumulation of indole alkaloids in Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don cell suspension cultures.—J. exp. Bot. 38: 1501–1506. The addition of sodium chloride, potassium chloride or sorbitol to 5–d–old cell suspension cultures of Catharanthus roseus stimulated an increase in the intracellular accumulation of catharanthine and other indole alkaloids within 48–72 h. The magnitude of the response depended upon the concentration of the compound added. The use of such inexpensive and readily available compounds to increase the yields and reduce the required culture times has considerable potential for the production of useful secondary metabolites from cell cultures of C. roseus and other plant species.