Cinchona tissue culture

Fig. 10. Relationship between degree of differentiation and alkaloid production for Cinchona plant cell and tissue cultures.

Cinchona can be considered to be recalcitrant with regard to cell and tissue culture. Although it has been possible to obtain cell and tissue cultures of some Cinchona species, they often require special treatments also, growth is usually slow, and viability of cells is rapidly lost. Moreover, the cell cultures are poor producers of alkaloids. In order to arrive at... 

Among others in our laboratories cell and tissue cultures of Cinchona species have been initiated. For a review of this work is referred to Wijnsma and Verpoorte (29). Summarizing the results cell suspension cultures of Cinchona are very poor producers of alkaloids. With an increase of organisation of the culture an increase of the alkaloid production can be observed (Fig. 2). 

R. Wijnsma and R. Verpoorte, Quinoline alkaloids in cell and tissue cultures of Cinchona species. Cell cultures and somatic genetics of plants. Vol. 5. 

R. Wijnsma, T.B. van Vliet, P.A.A. Harkes, H.J. van Groningen, R. van der Heijden, R. Verpoorte and A. Baerheim Svendsen, An improved method for the extraction of alkaloids from cell and tissue cultures of Cinchona species. Plants Medics, 53 (1987) 80-84. 

P.A.A. Harkes, L. Krijbolder, K.R. Libbenga, R. Wijnsma and R. Verpoorte, Influence of various media constituents on the growth of Cinchona ledgeriana tissue cultures and the production of alkaloids and anthraquinones therein. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 4 (1985) 199. 

As is true for the naphthoquinones, anthraquinones are synthesized by a variety of routes in plants and fimgi (Pack-ter, 1980). Most are derived from either acetate-malonate or isochorismate-a-ketoglutaric acid-mevalonate pathways. Anthraquinones also are produced frequently in plant tissue cultures (Ellis, 1988). Tissue cultures of Cinchona species (Rubiaceae) produce at least 30 different anthraquinones. 

Because of the value and the widespread use of Cinchona alkaloids, many attempts to produce alkaloids in plant tissue cultures and cell cultures from this group of plants have been made (Verpoorte et al., 1991). Trees require about 10 years before they can be harvested. Cell cultures of Cinchona ledg-eriana and C. succirubra produce largely cinchonine (67) and cinchonidine (68), although small quantities of quinine and quinidine were produced. Only small amounts of total alkaloids were produced (Ellis, 1988). 

Found in madder root Rubia tinctorum) as the glycoside, Ruberythric acid. Also found in R. iberica, R. cordifolia and in tissue cultures of Galium mollugo, Morinda citrifolia. Cinchona ledgeriana and C. pubescens. Bonds with calcifying tissues and has been used in studies of bone formation. Used in photometric detn. of B, Al, Ge, F , SO acid-base indicator (pH range 5.8-7.2 and 11.0-13.0). Orange or red needles or prisms (EtOH or by subl.). V. spar. sol. H2O. Mp 288-289°. Bp 430°. pi i 7.45 pK 2 11-80. Sublimes. 

Occurs in roots of Rheum palmatum, leaves and stems of Xyris semifuscata, tissue culture of Cinchona ledgeriana and leaves of Pyrrhalta luteola. Cathartic. Used in photometric detn. of B fluorimetric detn. of Mg (2 600 nm). Reddish-yellow needles or leaflets. Sol. EtOH, alkalis. Mp 193°. pK 8.30 pK 2 12.46 (25°). 

Patent Applications Concerning Plant Cell, Tissue, and Organ Culture of Cinchona... 

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