Alkaloid production in Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don cell cultures. XIII. Effects of bioregulators on indole alkaloid biosynthesis.

A study on the effect of various bioregulators on the biosynthesis of ajmalicine (8) and catharanthine (9) in plant tissue cultures of Catharanthus roseus is described. It is shown that 1,1-dimethylpiperidine bromide (3) and 2-diethylaminoethyl-3,4-dimethylphenylether (7) are effective in increasing these alkaloid levels in the cell line PRL #200. Such studies may prove beneficial in larger scale experiments designed for the production of these alkaloids.