Abstract

Steroid alkaloid solasodine is a nitrogen analogue of diosgenin that is used as a raw material for synthesis of steroid drugs. Plant medicinal Solanum surattense (Solanaceae) is a rich source of solasodine. The purpose of this study was production and maintenance of callus from leaves and comparison of solasodine steroid alkaloid production in outdoor plants and in vitro calli. The leaves were collected, sterilized and placed on MS medium supplemented with BAP (1 to 2 mg/l) and NAA (1 to 3 mg/l). The samples were kept in a growth chamber at 25°C with 16/8 (day/night) photoperiod and irradiance of 3000 to 2000 lux. The methanol extracts was performed to obtain solasodine from 2 g dry weight of each leaves and calluses and then injected into the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. The results showed that solasodine produced by leaves was 0.3316 mg/g whereas, the solasodine content obtained from calluses were 0.3951 mg/g (in 1 mg / l BAP + 2 mg / l NAA) and 0.3908 mg/g (in 1 mg / l BAP + 3 mg / l NAA). Plant tissue cultures have been suggested as a potential tool for solasodine production.

 
Key words: Callus induction, Solanum surattense Burm, in vitro, in vivo, Solasodine,high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).