Metabolites in cultured cells of Ibervillea sonorae (S. Watson) Greene display increased hypoglycemic activity compared to that seen in plant roots

Ibervillea sonorae (S. Watson) Greene, (huereque) is an endemic shrub whose roots are used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes. Here, we establish cell cultures of I. sonorae to evaluate the presence of antidiabetic metabolites. Stem and roots sections were incubated on media with different concentrations of growth regulators to induce calli. Using B5 medium containing 25 g L −1 sucrose, 150 mg L −1 ascorbic acid, 6 g L −1 agar–agar, supplemented with 0.5 mg L −1 α-naphthalene-acetic acid, 0.5 mg L −1 benzyladenine and 1 mg L −1 indole-3-acetic acid, 95% calli induction was attained. Flavonoids and phenols in I. sonorae cultured cell suspension were investigated. The methanol extracts exhibited antioxidant activity that was attributed to phenolic compounds. These extracts stimulated glucose uptake more efficaciously than I. sonorae plant roots. This study demonstrates that in vitro cultured cells stand as a good option for production of hypoglycemic metabolites.