CELL SUSPENSION CULTURE - AN IMPROVED SYSTEM FOR PRODUCTION OF COLCHICINE FROM GLORIOSA SUPERBA L.

The present study focused on the identification, isolation and quantification of a major bioactive compound colchicine from the suspension culture of Gloriosa superba L. The plant is an ornamental climbing herb with tuberous roots and having numerous medicinal properties. Suspension culture was established in MS medium with different hormonal combinations. Phytochemicals were analysed from callus which later compared to the methanol extract from root tubers of Gloriosa superba.The presence of high amount of colchicine in the methanol extract of root tuberand the callus was confirmed through the HPLC. Both the tuber extractand callus indicated the presence of colchicine but the callus has only less amount of colchicine. So production of colchicine was enhanced through elicitation in the suspension cultures. Suspension culture of Gloriosa superba was established and production of colchicine was enhanced using various biotic and abiotic elicitors. Colchicine in the suspension culture was identified, quantified and isolated using various chromatographic techniques. The result showed that maximum colchicine production was induced by the biotic elicitor namely chitosan and colchicine was separated and quantified through HPLC, column chromatography, HPTLC, and TLC. The present study thus confirmed that the suspension culture of Gloriosa superba possessed high amount of colchicine and which has to be used for further investigation and evaluation of medicinal properties.