Different kinetics of hydroquinone depletion in various medicinal plant tissue cultures producing arbutin
Jahodár, L.; Dusková, J.; Polásek, M.; Papugová, P.
Die Pharmazie 54(3): 234-235
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-7144 PMID: 10192115 Document Number: 500117
Hydroquinone depletion leading to arbutin synthesis was studied in callus cultures of Leuzea carthamoides [Rhaponticum carthamoides], Bergenia crassifolia, Leonurus cardiaca, Rhodiola rosea and Datura meteloides [D. fastuosa]. All cultures exhibited strong glycosylation activity during the initial 20 h of the experiment. After that time, the L. carthamoides culture showed a unique behaviour, the concentration of hydroquinone in the medium gradually increasing to approach the initial value in a further 24 h. The B. crassifolia and L. cardiaca cultures transformed hydroquinone in 2 steps, during an initial 5 or 10 h, respectively, and then between 20 and 48 h. The highest depletion of hydroquinone in the medium was attained with D. meteloides and R. rosea, the conversion exceeding 90% after 48 h. The content of arbutin on a DW basis in the 5 cultures was 0.9, 5.1, 4.8, 6.4 and 6.6%, respectively.