Planta Med 2010; 76 - P240
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264538

Diterpenoids in transformed root culture of Salvia austriaca Jacq.

L Kuzma 1, H Wysokinska 1
  • 1Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Lódz, Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Muszynskiego 1, 90151 Lódz, Poland

Salvia austriaca Jacquin (Austrian sage), is medicinal herbaceous plant native of high altitudes across Russia and eastern Europe [1]. It has been described that the roots of this species produce abietane diterpenoids [2]. In this work we established of S. austriaca hairy root culture by infection of aseptic shoots with Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4. Transformation of the roots was confirmed by PCR method by detection of rolB and rolC genes of Agrobacterium in the root cells [3]. The roots were maintained in half-strength hormone-free B5 liquid medium [4]. The dried and powdered hairy roots were extracted 3 times with n-hexane using an ultrasonic bath. The filtrated and evaporated extract was purified by column chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and eluting with acetone to obtain a fraction rich in abietane diterpenoids. Further separation of the constituents of this fraction by preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) led to isolation of taxodione, 6-deoxy-taxodione, 15-deoxy-fuerstione and a few other diterpenoids.

References: 1. Clebsch B., Barner CD (2003) The New Book of Salvias. Timber Press. Portland, Oregon.

2. Nagy, G. et. al. (1999) Phytochemistry 52:1105–1109.

3. Hosokawa K. et. al. (1997) Plant. Cell. Tiss. Org. Cult. 51:137–140.

4. Gamborg O.L. et. al. (1968) Mill Exp. Cell. Res. 50:151–158.