Isolation of Phytosterols from Static Tissue Cultures of Cissus quadrangularis L. (Vitaceae)-A Potent Bone Healer
Nidhi Sharma
Plant Pathology Tissue Culture and Biotechnology Laboratory Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302 004, India
Vidya Patni *
Plant Pathology Tissue Culture and Biotechnology Laboratory Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302 004, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Cissus quadrangularis, a threatened plant, commonly known as Hadjod, Asthisandhanjanni etc., contains high amount of anabolic steroidal substances. These anabolic steroidal substances give the plant its bone healing property. Hence, in the present investigation attempts were made at isolation, identification and production of phytosterols from in vitrocultured tissues. Unorganized callus tissue of Cissus quadrangularis was isolated and maintained for 18 months by frequent subcultures on MS medium. Tissues thus grown for different time intervals (2,4,6 and 8 weeks ) were harvested periodically, dried and their growth indices calculated separately. Each sample was soxhlet extracted with benzene for TLC. Maximum growth index (6.22) was observed in six week old tissue of the plant species. Total amount of sterols was also found to be higher (0.0439 %) in six week old tissue of Cissus quadrangularis. �-sitosterol and stigmasterol were identified by colour reaction, TLC, comparing IR spectra and HPLC chromatogram of the isolated compound with those of standards. Hence tissue cultures with high steroidal contents may be used on a large scale for industrial production of valuable steroidal compounds, from Cissus quadrangularis, the potent bone healer.
Keywords: Cissus quadrangularis, Callus, Growth index, Sterols