Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Improved production of withanolides in shoot suspension culture of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal by seaweed extracts

  • Research Note
  • Published:
Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The influence of Gracilaria edulis and Sargassum wightii extracts was investigated for the production of biomass and withanolides in the multiple shoot suspension culture of Withania somnifera. Supplementation of 40 % G. edulis extract in MS liquid medium for 24 h exposure time in the culture recorded the highest biomass accumulation [62.4 g fresh weight and 17.82 g dry weight (DW)] and withanolides production (withanolide A 0.76 mg/g DW; withanolide B 1.66 mg/g DW; withaferin A 2.80 mg/g DW and withanone 2.42 mg/g DW) after 5 weeks of culture, which were 1.45–1.58-fold higher than control culture. This naturally available G. edulis extract-treated multiple shoot suspension culture protocol offers a potential alternative for the optimum production of biomass and withanolides utilizing shake-flasks.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  • Chatterjee S, Srivastava S, Khalid A, Singh N, Sangwan RS, Sidhu OP, Roy R, Khetrapal CL, Tuli R (2010) Comprehensive metabolic fingerprinting of Withania somnifera leaf and root extracts. Phytochemistry 71:1085–1094

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan W, Rayirath UP, Subramanian S, Jithesh MN, Rayorath P, Hodges DM, Critchley AT, Craigie JS, Norrie J, Prithiviraj B (2009) Seaweed extracts as biostimulants of plant growth and development. J Plant Growth Regul 27:270–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Mirjalili MH, Fakhr-Tabatabaei SM, Bonfill M, Alizadeh H, Cusido RM, Ghassempour A, Palazon J (2009) Morphology and withanolide production of Withania coagulans hairy root cultures. Eng Life Sci 9:197–204

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra LC, Singh BB, Dagenais S (2000) Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha): a review. Altern Med Rev 5:334–346

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murashige T, Skoog F (1962) A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol Plant 15:473–497

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sakakibara H, Takei K, Hirose N (2006) Interactions between nitrogen and cytokinin in the regulation of metabolism and development. Trends Plant Sci 11:440–448

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sangwan RS, Chaurasia ND, Misra LN, Lal P, Uniyal GC, Sharma R, Sangwan NS, Suri KA, Qazi GN, Tuli R (2007) Phytochemical variability in commercial herbal products and preparations of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha). Curr Sci 86:461–465

    Google Scholar 

  • Sangwan RS, Chaurasiya ND, Lal P, Misra L, Tuli R, Sangwan NS (2008) Withanolide-A is inherently de novo biosynthesized in roots of the medicinal plant Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Physiol Plant 133:278–287

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharada M, Ahuja A, Vij SP (2008) Applications of biotechnology in Indian ginseng (ashwagandha): progress and prospects. In: Kumar A, Sopory SK (eds) Recent advances in plant biotechnology and its applications. I. K. International, New Delhi, pp 645–667

    Google Scholar 

  • Sivanandhan G, Mariashibu TS, Arun M, Rajesh M, Kasthurirengan S, Selvaraj N, Ganapathi A (2011) The effect of polyamines on the efficiency of multiplication and rooting of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal and content of some withanolides in obtained plants. Acta Physiol Plant 33:2279–2288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sivanandhan G, Arun M, Mayavan S, Rajesh M, Mariashibu TS, Manickavasagam M, Selvaraj N, Ganapathi A (2012a) Chitosan enhances withanolides production in adventitious root cultures of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. Ind Crop Prod 37:124–129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sivanandhan G, Arun M, Mayavan S, Rajesh M, Jeyaraj M, Kapil Dev G, Manickavasagam M, Selvaraj N, Ganapathi A (2012b) Optimization of elicitation conditions with methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid to improve the productivity of withanolides in the adventitious root culture of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 168:681–696

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sivanandhan G, Rajesh M, Arun M, Jeyaraj M, Kapil Dev G, Arjunan A, Manickavasagam M, Muthuselvam M, Selvaraj N, Ganapathi A (2013a) Effect of culture conditions, cytokinins, methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid on the biomass accumulation and production of withanolides in multiple shoot culture of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal using liquid culture. Acta Physiol Plant. 35:715–728

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sivanandhan G, Kapil Dev G, Jeyaraj M, Rajesh M, Muthuselvam M, Selvaraj N, Manickavasagam M, Ganapathi A (2013b) A promising approach on biomass accumulation and withanolides production in cell suspension culture of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. Protoplasma 250:885–898

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Schmidt RE (1997) The impact of growth regulators on the α-tocopherol status in water-stressed Poa pratensis L. Int Turfgrass Res J 8:1364–1373

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Prof. A. Ganapathi is thankful to the University Grants Commissions (UGC), Government of India, for the award of UGC-BSR (Basic Scientific Research Fellowship). The first author thankfully acknowledges the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India, for the award of CSIR-SRF.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, 620 024, Tamil Nadu, India

    Ganeshan Sivanandhan, Andy Ganapathi & Markandan Manickavasagam

  2. Department of Botany, Periyar E. V. R College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, 620 023, Tamil Nadu, India

    Natesan Selvaraj

Authors
  1. Ganeshan Sivanandhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Natesan Selvaraj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andy Ganapathi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Markandan Manickavasagam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Ganeshan Sivanandhan or Markandan Manickavasagam.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sivanandhan, G., Selvaraj, N., Ganapathi, A. et al. Improved production of withanolides in shoot suspension culture of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal by seaweed extracts. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 119, 221–225 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-014-0521-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-014-0521-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation