Sterol and ecdysteroid profiles of Serratula tinctoria (L.): Plant and cell cultures producing steroids

Abstract

Cell suspension cultures have been obtained from Serratula tinctoria, a plant producing ecdysteroids. Sterol profiles and ecdysteroid contents have been analysed and compared in plants and cell cultures. In particular, the composition of free and esterified sterols was investigated using appropriate analytical techniques. In plants, esterified sterols were more abundant (50–70% of the total sterol) than in cell cultures (13–36%). A selectivity for sterol esterification was noted: in plants, the triterpenes (as amyrins) were esterified, whereas it was the 4-desmethylsterols (sitosterol and cholesterol) in cell cultures. Ecdysteroids were present in higher quantities in plant (0.1–1.2% dry wt) than in cell cultures (0.01–0.03%). Analysis confirmed the presence of 20-hydroxyecdysone, 20-hydroxyecdysone-3-acetate and polypodine B as the main compounds. Roots were not only the richest organ in ecdysteroids, but also in cholesterol, lathosterol and 24-methylene-cholesterol. The results obtained suggest interesting relationships between free or esterified sterols and ecdysteroid contents.