Establishment of in vitro Root Cultures and Analysis of Secondary Metabolites in Indian Ginseng - Withania somnifera

Adventitious root culture was established in the Jawahar variety of Withania somnifera using MS basal medium supplemented with 0.5 (mg/l) IAA and 2.0 (mg/l) IBA. Root tips from germinated seedlings, MS0 maintained plants and adventitious roots were maintained in suspension medium (1/2 MS basal medium supplemented with 3% sucrose) for a period of 1 to 6 months. The weight gain in roots was noted and the withanolides were extracted from the dry roots using solvents petroleum ether, 50% ethanol and chloroform. The withanolides in the chloroform fractions of all root samples analyzed were compared using thin layer chromatographic analysis. Withanolide content in adventitious root sample was found to be superior compared to other roots at any given point of time during the 6month growth period.HPLC analysis of in vitro adventitious roots showed the presence of a new compound.