Glycowithanolides accumulation in in vitro shoot cultures of Indian ginseng (Withania somnifera Dunal).

Phytochemical investigations of multiple shoot cultures of selected accessions AGB002 and AGB025 of Withania somnifera established in vitro utilizing shoot tip apices cultured on Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with BAP (1 mg/L) have been carried out. This has lead to isolation of four glycowithanolides viz. Withanoside IV (WSG-3), Withanoside VI (WSG-3A), Physagulin D (WSG-P) and Withastraronolide (WSC-O). The structures of these have been confirmed on the basis of spectroscopic data. Multiple shoot cultures could be an alternative renewable resource for production of these biologically active molecules.