BRYONOLIC ACID PRODUCTION IN HAIRY ROOTS OF TRICHOSANTHES KIRILOWII MAX. VAR. JAPONICA KITAM. TRANSFORMED WITH AGROBACTERIUM RHIZOGENES AND ITS CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY

Abstract

The hairy roots of Trichosanthes kirilowii MAX. var. japonica KITAM. were induced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes (ATCC 15834) on sterile shoots. The axenic culture of hairy roots proliferated 30 to 60-fold based on the initial fresh weight after three weeks of culture in Murashige & Skoog liquid media. Bryonolic acid as the main triterpenoid was isolated in a high yield, together with chondrillasterol from the hairy roots of this plant. Bryonolic acid showed strong inhibition of the growth of B-16 melanoma cells.