Planta Med 2013; 79 - PI13
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1352103

Production of Fruticuline A and Demethylfruticuline A in in vitro-produced biomass from Salvia corrugata Vahl

A Bisio 1, D Fraternale 2, G Mele 1, D Ricci 2, N De Tommasi 3, N De Tommasi 3
  • 1Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Via Brigata Salerno, 16147 Genoa, Italy
  • 2Department of Science of Man, Environment and Nature, University of Urbino, Via Bramante 28, 61029 Urbino, Italy
  • 3Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Salerno, Via Ponte Don Melillo, 84084 Salerno, Italy.

Salvia corrugata Vahl. is an American species that is cultivated in the Mediterranean coastal area as an ornamental plant. The surface exudate of the fresh aerial parts has shown a significant antibacterial activity1,2 as well as antitumor and cytotoxic activities3,4 due to the content of two icetaxane diterpene quinones: Fruticuline A (1) and Demethylfruticuline A (2). The extractive yield of 1 and 2, previously isolated from S. fruticulosa Benth. and S. arizonica Gray, has been reported only for the first species (0.0026% and 0.01% (dry weight) respectively)1. 2 is the most abundant diterpenoid isolated from Salvia corrugata, where the extractive yields of 1 and 2 are 0.029% and 0.11%, respectively1. Aim of this work was to develop protocols for micropropagation, shoot regeneration and callus production of this species in order to evaluate the presence of 1 and 2 in the obtained biomass and to enhance the production of these compounds5. Shoot tips of young-herbaceous branches of S. corrugata have been used to start the micropropagation experiment, while stem nodes6 and leaves were used for the experiment of induction of adventitious shoots and callus respectively. The presence of these icetaxane diterpenes have been evidenced in all the in vitro-obtained tissues by means of HPLC, NMR and MS experiments.

References:

[1] Bisio A, Romussi G, Russo E, Cafaggi S, Schito AM, Repetto B, De Tommasi N. 2008. J. Agric. Food Chem. 56: 10468 – 10472.

[2] Schito AM, Piatti G, Stauder M, Bisio A, Giacomelli E, Romussi G, Pruzzo C. 2011. Int. J. Antimicrob. Ag. 37(2):129 – 34.

[3] Giannoni P, Narcisi R, De Totero D, Romussi G, Quarto R, Bisio A. 2010. Phytomedicine 17: 449 – 456.

[4] Monticone M, Bisio A, Daga A, Giannoni P, Giaretti W, Maffei M, Pfeffer U, Romeo F, Quarto R, Romussi G, Corte G, Castagnola P. 2010. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 1149 – 1159.

[5] Alkowni R, Sawalha K. 2012. Journal of Agricultural Technology, 8: 1285 – 1299.

[6] Fraternale D, Bisio A, Ricci D. 2013. Plant Biosystems, in press.