Silybum marianum in vitro-flavonolignan production

Abstract

The effect of coniferyl alcohol as a precursor of flavonolignan biosynthesis on silymarin components production in Silybum marianum suspension culture was studied. Coniferyl alcohol showed the changes in silymarin complex production. Silydianin was detected mainly in the control samples of cultivated cells. A significant increase of silydianin was observed only after 72 h of the application of 46μM coniferyl alcohol. No other components of the silymarin complex (silychristin and silybin) were detected; neither in control samples nor after the precursor feeding. But the increased accumulation of taxifolin (flavanole) was very interesting. The highest taxifolin production was reached after 48 hours of treatment (about 554% compared to control).