Abstracto

Production of flavonol Quercetin from cultured plant cells of Banyan (Ficus benghalensis L.)

H. Bandekar, S. S. Lele

This study reports in vitro production of flavonol quercetin from Ficus benghalensis L. which is the first study of its kind to be reported. Different media were employed for callus induction using explants like nodal segments, young leaf discs and root sections. Friable calli were obtained in media supplemented with plant growth regulators (PGRs) after 14-18 days of inoculation. The callus was subcultured and allowed to mature to investigate its biomass accumulation and quercetin production. Proliferation of callus was achieved by supplementing sucrose (3%) Lglutamine (150 mg/L). Liquid phase cultures were established with the abovementioned medium composition without solidifying agents Quercetin was extracted from cultures by fractionation, confirmed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography and quantified using High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography. A maximum quercetin content of 0.31 mg/g dry cell weight (DCW) was obtained through this system which was 20 times higher than that extracted from mother plant.