In vitro culture of common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.)

Abstract

Verbascum thapsus L. is a medicinal herb and has been used to treat inflammatory disease, asthma, spasmodic coughs and migraine headaches. Studies were initiated to establish an in vitro culture protocol for V. thapsus. Explants (leaf dises, petioles and roots) were cultured on Murashing and Skoog minimal organics (MSMO) medium with benzyladenine (BA) or kinetin. Best shoot proliferation was obtained from leaf dise and petiole explants at 13.32 μM BA. Leaf dises were cultured on MSMO medium with 13.32 μM BA in combination with naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) or 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). More shoot development was obtained with 13.32 μM BA and 5.37 μM NAA. Shoots were transferred to rooting media containing different levels of NAA and 2,4-D. Most of the shoots formed roots on media with 5.37 μM NAA. Plants were transferred to vermiculite and subsequently to potting media and maintained in the greenhouse.