Root cultures of linum species section Syllinum as rich sources of 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin.

Linum spp. from section Syllinum are promising for the production of aryltetralin lignans like podophyllotoxin (PTOX) and 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin (MPTOX). MPTOX is a PTOX congener that has cytotoxic activity comparable with PTOX. In this study root cultures of Linum Bungei from section Dasyllinum, L. strictum from section Linastrum, L. album, L. mucronatum ssp. mucronatum and L. nodiflorum from section Syllinum were established and their MPTOX levels were investigated in 1000 ml flasks. Root cultures of L. mucronatum ssp. mucronatum and L. nodiflorum were used to examine cell growth and production of MPTOX during a culture period of 36 days in 250 ml flasks. Considerable amounts of MPTOX in root cultures (1000 ml flasks) of L. album (6 mg/100 g DW), L. mucronatum ssp. mucronatum (770 mg/100 g DW) and L. nodiflorum (91 mg/100 g DW) were detected while it wasn't detected in root cultures of L. Bungei and L. strictum. In time course experiments, the maximum amount of MPTOX in L. nodiflorum root culture was at day 16 with 480 mg/ 100 g DW and the maximum amount of MPTOX in L. mucronatum ssp. mucronatum root culture was at day 12 with 130 mg/100 g DW. The results showed that root cultures of Linum species from section Syllinum are rich sources of MPTOX and since this lignan has remarkable cytotoxic activity, it can be used as a precursor for the production of antitumor agents.