Bule Pigment Formation by Clerodendron trichotomum callus

Blue pigment-producing callus was induced from fruit of Clerodendron trichotomum Thunb. on Linsmaier and Skoog (LS) medium with 10μM 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D). Callus grew on LS medium with either 2, 4-D or 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) on subculture. Callus growth and blue pigment formation were much improved by selection on LS gellan gum medium with 2μM NAA. Kinetin and benzyladenine (1μM) inhibited blue pigment formation. One of the blue pigments was confirmed to be trichotomine by HPLC, TLC, and NMR spectra; two others were presumed to be trichotomine G1 and N, N'-di (D-glucopyranosyl) trichotomine on the basis of comparison with the blue pigments from C.trichotomum fruit on HPLC.