Robust in vitro culture tools suitable for sustainable bioprospecting of the genus Hypericum

Abstract

This article reports simple, robust, and species-independent methods for establishing in vitro cell suspension and shoot cultures useful for sustainable bioprospecting of Hypericum, a genus containing several medicinal plants commonly used in treating mild and moderate depression. Loose cell masses or shoot buds were directly induced by culturing seeds on medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) or 6-benzyladenine (BA). Homogeneous cell suspension cultures could be achieved when cells were transferred to liquid culture medium, and robust shoot cultures could be established by transferring cultures containing shoot buds to basal medium. Stable cell suspension and (or) shoot cultures could be established for all Hypericum spp. tested (H. androsaemum L., H. linariifolium Vahl, H. elodes L., H. pulchrum L., H. humifusum L., H. undulatum Schousb. ex Willd, H. perfoliatum L., H. canariense L., H. tomentosum L., H. perforatum L. and H. maculatum Crantz), regardless of their habits and habitats.