Production of β-carboline alkaloids on co-culture of peganum harmala L

Introduction: peganum harmala L. (Zygophyllaceae) and varthemia persica DC (Compositeae) were used for co-culture studies. P.harmala was found to be one of the richest natural sources of β-carboline alkaloids. β-carboline alkaloids posses different neuropharmacologic activities including BDZ antagonism, MAOinhibitor and aminoreuptake inhibitor. The production of β-carboline alkaloids in cell suspension culture of these two plants may be increased by various factors including co-culture. Methods: In this experimental study, P.harmala seeds surface were sterilized and transferred under aseptic condition to the Petri dishes to produce seedlings. Callus cultures were established from seedling and cell suspension cultures were obtained from callus. The cultures were established in Murashige and Skoog media supplemented with sucrose and growth regulators. Co-culture of two plants was established by using different ratio of each culture. Methanol extract of cultured cells was prepared. The harmin harmalol and harmol were extracted and identified by TLC. The quantity of alkaloids was determined using U.V sepectorphotometer. Results: Harmin, harmalol and harmol were produced in all samples. The highest concentration of alkaloids was found in the termination phase of growth cycle. The co-culture of P.harmala and V.persica cell suspension at the ratio of 1:1 produced more alkaloids comparing to P.harmala cell suspension. Conclusion: V. Persica cell suspension seems to influence β-carboline alkaloid production in P.harmala cultures. Total β-carboline alkaloid production increase parallel to growth cycle.