Triterpenoid Constituents of Tissue Cultures and Regenerated Organs of Taraxacum officinale

Abstract

Complete plants were regenerated from callus cultures of Taraxacum officinale. Shoot cultures were first established on half strength Murashige-Skoog's medium containing 0.1ppm N6-benzyladenine with or without 0.1ppm a-naphthaleneacetic acid. These shoots regenerated roots on phytohormone-free medium, and then, upon transfer to soil in a pot, grew into complete plants with normal flowers and seeds. Triterpenoid constituents of the dedifferentiated callus cells, wild and regenerated shoot and root organs, and also of latex, were analyzed. Triterpene acids (oleanolic and ursolic acids) were found predominantly in callus cells. The composition of triterpen-3-ols was characteristically different between the organs: a-and R-amyrins were found in all the tissues, whereas taraxasterol and lupeol were detected in differentiated organs.