Cell Suspension Culture and Secondary Metabolite Production of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. - An Endangered Medicinal Plant

Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. cell suspension culture was developed in liquid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium significantly without any growth supplements. The secondary metabolite analysis was done in cells and their respective media at the time of each harvest. Secondary metabolite analysis was also done of the in vitro and in vivo roots of C. orchioides. All extractions were made in RO water and methanol. Concentrations of phenolics and flavonoids in the in vivo roots were found to be the highest followed by decreasing trend in in vitro and 5, 10 and 15 days old suspension cells. When analysis is done to estimate total production possibilities, it turns out that production of the phenolics and flavonoids are highest in suspension cells and least in the in vitro and in vivo roots. All estimations were done in the fresh samples. Analytical data of secondary metabolites of C. orchioides samples were compared with the Viagra salts – Sildenafil citrate and Tadalafil. It was observed to have the similar salts/perspective compound (if not identical) in all the Curculigo samples studied. Since C. orchioides known to be use as aphrodisiac, analytical studies of the extracts mentioned above was done using viagra salts – Sildenafil citrate and Tadalafil as standards. Our data shows positive conversions. Hence, processing and purification of these compounds with aphrodisiac properties from C. orchioides suspension cells should be possible and have economic feasibility.