ANALYSIS OF TARAXEROL AND TARAXASTEROL IN HAIRY ROOT CULTURES OF TARAXACUM OFFICINALE WEBER

摘要

Taraxacum officinale (TO) Weber commonly known as dandelion has contained triterepenes-taraxasterol and taraxerol in its roots which are nowadays being recognized as potent anticancer compounds. The main objective behind the present study was to increase the yield of taraxasterol and taraxerol through induction of hairy roots in Taraxacum officinale Weber using two strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes MTCC- 532 and MTCC-2084. An efficient protocol for the induction of hairy roots is proposed from the root callus cultures of Taraxacum officinale maintained on MS + IAA + BA + 2, 4-D (0.5 ppm + 1 ppm + 0.5 ppm) through infection of the root callus with two strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes MTCC-532 and MTCC-2084. It was found that MTCC-532 proved to be effective in hairy roots induction whereas MTCC-2084 failed to induce hairy roots. HPLC results showed the retention time of taraxerol and taraxasterol at 4.975 and 3.5 min respectively. Showing fourfold increase in content of taraxasterol and a nearly two-fold increase in taraxerol.