Enhanced production of artemisinin by hairy root cultures of Artemisia dubia

Abstract

The current research was to enhance the artemisinin concentration in hairy root cultures, produced by transformation of Artemisia dubia with Agrobacterium rhizogenes LBA9402. These cultures were exposed to gibberellic acid and salicylic acid, separately, to determine growth rate and artemisinin production. Gibberellic acid increased the growth rate of hairy roots at its 0.001 mg/L concentration while salicylic acid increased the growth rate at its 0.138 mg/L concentration. Maximum artemisinin concentration that is, 80±3 µg/g of DW was measured at 0.01 mg/L of gibberellic acid which was 91% increase in comparison with control, followed by artemisinin that is, 58±4 µg/g of DW at its 0.001 mg/L concentration that was 38% increase with respect to control. Maximum artemisinin concentration that is, 79±3 µg/g of DW was measured when hairy roots were exposed to 13.8 mg/L of salicylic acid and second highest concentration 73±3 µg/g was obtained at 1.38 mg/L of salicylic acid. The results showed that both substances increased growth rate and artemisinin production. Key words: Agrobacterium rhizogenes, Artemisia dubia, artemisinin, gibberellic acid, salicylic acid, hairy root cultures.