Effect of N6-Benzyl amino purine and Naphthalene acetic acid on camptothecin production through in vitro propagation of Ophiorrhiza rugosa Wall. var. decumbens (Gardn. ex Thw.) Deb & Mondal

In vitro production of camptothecin (CPT) was achieved by the establishment of multiple shoot and root cultures of Ophiorrhiza rugosa Wall. var. decumbens (Gardn. ex Thw.) Deb & Mondal. The maximum multiple shoots were obtained in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5mg/l N-benzyl amino purine (BA) along with 0.5mg/l naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Optimal root generation was observed in Murashige and Skoog medium with 2mg/l NAA and 0.05mg/l BA. However, CPT content found to be elevated in shoot and root cultures where growth hormones imposed growth inhibition. The maximum amount of CPT in multiple shoots was 0.039% while shoots of plant grown in the field showed 0.002 per cent. In root cultures, CPT content was 0.065% whereas roots of intact plant showed only 0.024 %.