Investigation of tropane alkaloids in genetically transformed Atropa belladonna L. cultures

The purpose of the present study was to determine the tropane alkaloid content of genetically transformed hairy root cultures of Atropa belladonna L. Determination of alkaloids was performed by HPLC method. Samples were extracted with chloroform - methanol - cc. ammonia 15:5:1 (v/v/v). Crude extracts were purified on Extrelut columns. HPLC separation was performed on Luna C8 reversed phase column. An isocratic mixture of acetonitrile - 30 mM phosphate buffer - methanol 12.2:79.7:8.1 (v/v/v) was used as eluent. Peaks were identified by addition of standards and diode-array detection. Hyoscyamine, scopolamine and apoatropine were determined by external standard method at 210 nm. We measured the alkaloid content of genetically transformed in vitro cultures (hairy roots and reorganised plants) cultivated on Gamborg B5 basic media. The highest hyoscyamine and scopolamine content was found in hairy root clone #K-5 (0,223 m/m%) and in hairy root clone #K-4 (0,018 m/m%) respectively. Alkaloid contents were higher in the hairy roots than in the reorganised plants.