Untransformed root cultures of Nothapodytes foetida and production of camptothecin

Untransformed root cultures of Nothapodytes foetida were established from immature zygotic embryos on MS basal medium supplemented with different concentration of growth regulators. Alkaloid contents in untransformed root cultures showed that root elongation and growth regulators accompanied product synthesis. Basal medium supplemented with NAA and BA achieved maximum number of elongated roots. Maximum concentration of camptothecin (0.01% DW) and 9-methoxy camptothecin (0.0016% DW) were synthesised by untransformed root cultures incubated on MS medium supplemented with NAA (71.36 muM) and BA (8.87 muM). Culture medium containing NAA (71.36 muM) and Kn (9.29 muM) proliferated callus interspersed with roots which synthesised camptothecin (0.00017% DW) and 9-methoxy-camptothecin (0.000058% DW).