Effect of acetylsalicylic acid on secondary metabolism ofCatharanthus roseus tumor suspension cultures.

Addition of various concentrations (0.5-20 mM) of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) to tumor lines ofCatharanthus roseus cultivatedin vitro and requiring corn starch as carbon source, produced remarkable effects on secondary metabolite production. An increase of 505% total alkaloids per culture (cells plus liquid medium), 1587% total phenolics (liquid medium), 612% total furanocoumarins (liquid medium) and 1476% total anthocyanins (liquid medium) was detected. 1 mM ASA in combination with other elicitors, such as homogenates ofAspergillus fumigatus or trans-cinnamic acid, did not further increase the metabolite content substantially. The results suggest that ASA could act as a new biotic elicitor of metabolite production inC. roseus cell suspension culture.