Enhancement of Taxol production by applying amino acid complex along with chitosan in suspension culture of Taxus baccata L.

Taxol (Paclitaxel) has been highly recommended to control and treat a wide range of cancers. Taxus baccata L. is primary and natural origin of Taxol.

Due to severe restriction and prohibition of cutting T. baccata, the alternative way for Taxol production is to apply in vitro culture method which was implemented at the current study. Here, for the first time, the effect of amino acid complex as elicitor along with chitosan in cell suspension culture ofT. baccata for enhancing Taxol production was studied.

Young leaves of T. baccata as explants were cultured in different callus induction treatments. At the next step, the calli from the best callus induction treatment were transferred to cell suspension cultures containing chitosan and amino acid complex alone or in combination with each other. Taxol content in treatments were measured by HPLC.

MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D at 2 mg/L and NAA at 1 mg/L proved to be the best treatment of callus induction (100 %), fresh weight (495 mg) and dry weight (272 mg) of calli. Also, HPLC analysis confirmed the maximum production of Taxol (1.96 mg/g) in MS medium having 2 ml/L amino acids complex with 10 mg/L chitosan.

Applying amino acid complex as elicitor with chitosan is suggested for enhancing Taxol production in cell suspension culture of T. baccata.