Improving sesquiterpenoids production of Sarcandra glabra callus culture

•A method for Sarcandra glabra callus induction and proliferation was established.•Two sesquiterpenoids, chloranthalactone A and atractylenolide II, could be produced in S. glabra callus.•The production of chloranthalactone A and atractylenolide II was enhanced by abiotic stress and elicitor treatment. Sarcandra glabra, a traditional Chinese medicine and herbal tea, has benefits from treating inflammation and fractures to curing cancer. The anti-inflammatory properties of sesquiterpenoids (chloranthalactone A, CTA; atractylenolide II, AT-II) have made S. glabra to a great potential for research and development. Here this study developed S. glabra callus culture to circumvent particular needs of the plant growing seasons and Hardiness zone, with the goal being able to produce sesquiterpenoids in vitro. The half strength Murashige and Skoog (1/2MS) medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D, 2.0 mg/L) and 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA, 1.0 mg/L) was effective for callus induction. The 1/2MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D (2.0 mg/L) and 6-BA (0.5 mg/L) was superior for callus proliferation. The callus was friable, yellowish and rapidly grown without tissue differentiation. Moreover, high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) analysis indicated that the contents of CTA and AT-Ⅱ in multiple subculture S. glabra callus were 3.72 ± 0.51 mg/g and 0.50 ± 0.12 mg/g in fresh weight (FW), respectively. Using abiotic stresses and elicitors, production of CTA (by ultraviolet-B radiation for 48 h) and AT-II (by methyl jasmonate, 100 μmol/L) was enhanced by 2.3-fold. In conclusion, this work not only established the S. glabra callus culture for in vitro production of CTA and AT-II, but also provided the foundation for further development and utilization of S. glabra.