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Planta Med 2015; 81(12/13): 1169-1174
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1545947
Natural Product Chemistry
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Reproduction of the Medicinal Plant Pelargonium sidoides via Somatic Embryogenesis[*]

Stefanie Duchow
Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
,
Wolfgang Blaschek
Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
,
Birgit Classen
Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 14 January 2015
revised 24 February 2015

accepted 21 March 2015

Publication Date:
08 May 2015 (online)

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Abstract

The medicinal plant Pelargonium sidoides DC. (Geraniaceae) was traditionally used for the treatment of the common cold and cough in South Africa. Today an aequous-ethanolic root extract from this plant is approved for the treatment of acute bronchitis and is globally marketed also as an immunostimulant. The increasing demand of the plant material for the industrial production indicates the need of new effective methods for the propagation of P. sidoides. Here we report somatic embryogenesis and in vitro plantlet regeneration from somatic cells of inflorescence shoots and petioles of P. sidoides. A one-week cultivation of explants in media containing different concentrations of thidiazuron (1, 2.2, 3, and 4 mg/L) followed by a cultivation period without phytohormones resulted in the induction of somatic embryos within 2–4 weeks. After 2–4 months, the embryos generated roots and could be transferred into a greenhouse, where flower formation took place and the development of seeds occurred with high germination rates. The root umckalin concentration, determined by high-performance thin-layer chromatography, was comparable to that of seed-cultivated plants (100 ± 6 vs. 113 ± 10 µg umckalin/g dried roots). For the first time, direct somatic embryogenesis has been established as an appropriate cultivation method for P. sidoides plants used as raw material in the pharmaceutical industry. Moreover, genetically identical plants (chemical races) can be easily generated by this procedure.

Key words

Pelargonium sidoides - Geraniaceae - direct somatic embryogenesis - thidiazuron - inflorescence shoots - petioles - umckalin

* Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Adolf Nahrstedt on the occasion of his 75th birthday.


 

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