Micropropogation and Organogenesis in Adhatoda vasika For The Estimation Of Vascine

Adhatoda vasika (Family: Acanthaceae) commonly known as vasaka has been used in traditional system of medicine for several respiratory tract ailments. Vasicine and vasicinone are the important alkaloids of vasaka having bronchodilatory and expectorant effect. In the present study we have tried to develop callus cultures of vasaka from leaf, petiole and nodes by using different plant growth regulator (PGR) combinations. The best PGR combination in terms of growth index, bioactive secondary metabolite content and repeatability to induce callus was determined. Secondary metabolite recovered from callus was identified using a standard sample of vasicine by chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. MS medium prepared with 10.7µM NAA (Naphthalene acetic acid) and 2 .2µM 6BA (6 benzylaminopurine) showed 90% repeatability to induce callus with 7th day callus induction and secondary metabolite concentration of 3.2 % on gram dry weight basis. An attempt to increase secondary metabolite concentration using cell suspension culture was tried and a rise in alkaloidal content was obtained during a period of one month study. Organogenesis was established using nodes as an explant and shoots were observed after 18 days. The results of the present study revealed that the developed callus, shoot and root invitro cultures can be used as alternative source for production of vasaka alkaloids of pharmaceutical interest.