Effect of jasmonates and exogenous polysaccharides on production of alkannin pigments in suspension cultures of Alkanna tinctoria.

The conditions for the efficient production of alkannin pigments by a suspension culture of Alkanna tinctoria were established. Pectin, polygalacturonic acid sodium salt and galactan increased the pigment production but not as much as agar did. A marked increase in the pigment content in cells and medium of suspension cultures after treatment with methyl jasmonate was observed. It was shown, applying a two-layer culture method, that mineral and olive oils intensified the pigment secretion from cells to the medium but did not enhance significantly their synthesis. Thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography methods showed that two main esters of alkannin are responsible for the characteristic colour of A. tinctoria suspension cultures.