Synergistic effect of morphactin on cytokinin-induced production of isoflavonoids in cell cultures of Pueraria tuberosa (Roxb. ex. Willd.) DC

Isoflavonoids, the functional molecules of Fabaceae, are under clinical trials against cancer, osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, the efficacy of different plant growth regulators was evaluated for optimizing the production of isoflavonoids in Pueraria tuberosa. The cultures were maintained in Murashige and Skoog's medium containing 0.1 mg l(-1) 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) and 0.1 mg l(-1) kinetin. The addition of 5.0 mg l(-1) N 6-(2-Isopentenyl) adenine (2iP) resulted in about similar to 32-folds increase in production of isoflavonoids, while about similar to 23-folds increase was recorded in the absence of kinetin in the maintenance medium. A maximum yield of isoflavonoids (similar to 80 mg l(-1); 82-folds increase) was obtained in cultures grown at 0.1 mg l(-1) morphactin and 5.0 mg l(-1) of 2iP. However, 2,4,5-T in combination with 2iP was ineffective for their production. Among different plant growth regulators tested, maximum yields of puerarin, genistin, daidzein and genistein were 17.4, 15.9, 69.0 and 0.04 mg l(-1), respectively. The study suggested that the presence of two cytokinins or 2iP with morphactin in the culture medium markedly enhanced the production of isoflavonoids in P. tuberosa.