Department of Biotechnology, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur - 208 024, UP, India. Corresponding e-mail: mfpsmachado@uem.br
Abstract: The present investigation was carried out to develop an efficient protocol for low cost secondary metabolite production through
in vitro callus culture of a medicinal herb
Withania somnifera. The leaf explants, excised from the shoots collected from university campus, were cultured under different experimental conditions for
in vitro callus induction and growth. The experimental conditions were optimized for reducing the cost of
in vitro callusing medium. In the callusing medium double distilled water was replaced by reverse osmosis water, sucrose by table sugar and by lowering (0.7 % w/v) agar concentration instead of 0.8 %. Different concentration and combinations of 2,4-D and Kinetin were tested for callus induction and growth from leaf tissue. The leaf explant cultured on 0.7 % (w/v) agar gelled MS medium prepared with RO water and having 4.50 µM 2,4-D and 4.65 µM Kn were found best for callus induction. The cost of this medium was 11 times lower than the normal medium. The callus obtained on this medium was dried at room temperature and extraction of phytochemicals from dried callus was performed by using methanol as solvent. The methanolic extract of callus showed the presence of phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant activity.
