Effect of Media Variation on the Induction and Phytochemical Profile of Callus in Two Varieties of Cat's Whiskers (Orthosiphon aristatus Blume Miq)

Abstract

The levels of rosmarinic acid and sinensetin in purple and white-purple varieties of Orthosiphon aristatus, cat's whiskers, can be increased using modified in vitro culture. This work focused on callus induction of the purple and white-purple variety of cat's whiskers grown on Gamborg (B5) and CHU (N6) with the addition of growth regulators 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetis acid. Our observation suggested that the callus could grow within three weeks and produce rosmarinic acid and sinensetin. The level of sinensetin from various extraction methods is relatively low; in contrast, the rosmarinic acid from purple callus was detected at about 5% w/w, while the white-purple variety was around 2% w/w. The results of this study also provided new information on the basic media other than MS that can grow cat's whiskers callus while producing active compounds.