Planta Med 2008; 74 - PG47
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084800

Accumulation of Lignans in in vitro cultures of three Linum species

A Mohagheghzadeh 1, S Dehshahri 2
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, P.O. Box 71345–1583, Shiraz, I. R. Iran
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar Jarib Ave, P.O. box 81746–73461, Isfahan, Iran

Plant tissue culture, introduced in 1960's, is a powerful tool for the pharmaceutical production. Lignans are secondary metabolites with pharmaceutical values. Since Linum (Linaceae family) produces such compounds[1], we studied lignans in calli and shoot cultures of Linum tenuifolium from section Linastrum, L. bienne and L. glaucum from section Linum on MS medium with growth regulators (2,4- Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, Kinetin and α- Naphthaleneacetic acid).

Seed germination of L. tenuifolium in light and darkness was significantly higher (p<0.05) than L. bienne seed germination in light and L. glaucum in darkness. L. tenuifolium seedling length in darkness was significantly (p<0.01) higher than in light condition. There were not significant differences in calli and shoot biomass weight, number and length of shoots in three species over a month. Biomass results were extracted and analyzed by HPLC, HPLC coupled Photo Diode Array (PDA) detector or HPLC/MS/UV- DAD. The results showed the presence of Justicidin B in L. glaucum samples for the first time. This finding is important and shows the chemosystematic relation between L. glaucum and L. austriacum. since L. austriacum in vitro cultures produce aryl naphthalene lignans (Justicidin B and Isojusticidin B) [2]. This method will be a powerful tool for detecting natural products in interesting and endangered medicinal plants.

Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to Shiva Hemmati for her assistance.

References:1. Vanisree, M. et al. (2004) Bot Bull Acad Sin. 45: 1–22.

2. Mohagheghzade, A. et al. (2002)J Nat Prod. 65: 69–71.