Effect of growth regulators and amino acids on artemisinin production in the callus of Artemisia absinthium

Studies were conducted on the effect of amino acids and growth regulators on the production of artemisinin, an antimalarial compound, in the callus of Artemisia absinthium. Callus was initiated on solid MS medium supplemented with BAP and NAA from leaf explant. For the production of artemisinin, the callus was proliferated on sterile filter paper bridge in MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of plant growth regulators and amino acids. Estimation of artemisinin contents showed that leaves contained 223 mug/g artemisinin while no artemisinin was observed in the stem extract. Callus culture initiated from leaf explant on MS medium without any growth regulator, failed to show the presence of artemisinin. The amount of artemisinin in the callus culture was influenced with the addition of different growth regulators and amino acids to the medium; 3.1 mug/g artemisinin was present in the callus cultured on MS medium to which valine ( 12.5 mg/l) was added. Addition of cystine (12.5 mg/l) to the medium resulted in 2.8 mug/g artemisinin production. The amount of artemisinin in the callus cultures was 3.05 mug/g and 1.95 mug/g when BAP (2 mg/l) and NAA (2 mg/l), respectively were present in the medium. Addition of other growth regulators and amino acids resulted in nominal or no artemisinin production. Present study suggest that artemisinin production can be enhanced with the manipulation of medium by different hormones and amino acids in the callus cultured on sterile filter paper bridge.