Production of plumbagin from cell cultures of Plumbago rosea L.

Abstract

Callus and suspension cultures derived from leaf explants of Plumbago rosea were established and plumbagin, a naphthoquinone, was isolated from them and confirmed by 1H NMR and electron-ionization mass spectroscopy. Maximum content of plumbagin was obtained in the stationary phase of growth (4.3 mg g−1 dry cell wt). Media pH, phytohormones and carbon sources were optimized for biomass and plumbagin accumulation. Cell aggregates, measuring 500 μm in diam, produced 8.2 g dry cell wt l−1, but larger aggregates (above 500 μm) favored plumbagin accumulation with an yield of 4.5 mg g−1 dry cell wt.