Effect of Growth Regulators on Alkaloid Production from Adhatoda vasica and Adhatoda beddomei In Vitro

The alkaloids present in Adhatoda species namely vasicine and vasicinone are responsible for its pharmacological property. But the production of alkaloids is too low; hence in vitro strategies have been adopted to enhance the production of alkaloids. In the present study, the influence of selected auxins and cytokinins on growth and alkaloid production was studied in vitro. Higher concentration of auxin (2.0 mg/l) was found to be the best for maximum alkaloid production. Among the auxins tested, IAA was increased alkaloid production in callus cultures. Of the two cytokinin used, Kn was enhanced alkaloid production.