Influence of Salicylic acid on Atropine Production in Datura metel L. Callus Cultures

Atropine is a pharmaceutical important alkaloid, with anticholinergic activity. Elicitor treatment appears to be the most successful techniques employed to stimulate biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. In present study callus culture of Datura metel were treated with salicylic acid in order to stimulate the biosynthesis of atropine. Callus culture of Datura metel were established by transferring seedling on solidified MS medium. Optimal callus of fifth generation were subjected to medium supplemented with different concentration of salicylic acid. After twenty eight days calluses were collected, dried and extracted. The atropine was determined using HPLC method. Treatment of the culture with 25, 50, 200 μM salicylic acid increased callus dried weight. No significant differences were observed in atropine production in callus treated with 25, 50, 200 μM salicylic acid. It seems that salicylic acid in specific concentration can stimulate primary metabolism in callus culture of Datura metel but no changes was observed in secondary metabolism related to atropine production. It may conclude that salicylic acid effect on secondary metabolite production in plant cell culture related to the moiety of target compound and plant genetics.