Phenylpropanoid production in callus and cell suspension cultures of Buddleja cordata Kunth

Plant tissue cultures represent a potential source for producing secondary metabolites. In this work, Buddleja cordata tissue cultures were established in order to produce phenylpropanoids (verbascoside, linarin and hydroxycinnamic acids), as these metabolites are credited with therapeutic properties. Highest callus induction (76.4-84.3%) was obtained in five treatments containing 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d: 0.45-9.05 mu M) with Kinetin (KIN: 2.32, 4.65 mu M), whereas highest root induction (79.6%) corresponded to the alpha-Naphthaleneacetic acid (9.05 mu M) with KIN (2.32 mu M) treatment. Verbascoside was the major phenylpropanoid produced in in vitro cultures (root, white and green callus) [66.24-86.26 mg g(-1) dry weight (DW)], while linarin and hydroxycinnamic acid production was low (0.95-3.01 mg g(-1) DW). Verbascoside and linarin production were improved in cell suspension culture (116 mg g(-1) DW and 8.12 mg g(-1) DW, respectively).