In vitro propagation of Podophyllum peltatum.

The lignan podophyllotoxin, occurring in Podophyllum emodi Wall, ex Royale and Podophyllum peltatum. L., is the starting compound for the semi-synthesis of the anticancer drugs etoposide and teniposide. In this study, we evaluate development of an in vitro propagation protocol to rapidly produce high yielding Podophyllum peltatum plants. Rhizome tips were inoculated on MS medium supplied with 4.4 microM N(6)-benzyladenine and 0.025% (w/v) activated charcoal. These explants formed terminal buds, similar to the ones found in nature. These buds were sources of in vitro bud cultures. These bud cultures were classified as: apical, axillary, and adventitious and the effects of various N(6)-benzyladenine concentrations on the three types of bud cultures were evaluated through bud, leaf, and root inductions. Cultures of axillary and adventitious buds were more proliferous for bud induction. Podophyllotoxin contents of in vitro rooted bud and plantlet cultures were similar to the content found in the wild. Plantlets and buds were acclimatized under controlled environment conditions.