Synergistic influence of growth regulators, micronutrients, and precursors on colchicine production in Gloriosa superba callus

Abstract

The main origin of colchicine, a key medicinal alkaloid, is the temperate plant known as Colchicum autumnale. Given its rarity in India, the tropical species Gloriosa superba L., which is prevalent throughout India, and synthesizes colchicine to a considerable degree, gains substantial relevance. Callus cultures of Gloriosa superba, developed on Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium produced higher levels of colchicine in corm as compared to other explants. The amount of colchicine showed differences in relation to the array of supplements used in the culture medium. The biosynthesis of colchicine was observed to be maximized in callus tissue cultivated on MS medium augmented with 2, 4-D91.5 mg/l) and kinetin (0.4 mg/l) and 100 µMof Manganese, 30 µM of Zinc, 0.5% µM of Copper optimally synergized with 0.5 µM of Tyrosine.