Abstract
In order to establish an effective system for producing lignans and to examine a physiological role of lignans in trees, induction of callus from Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. was investigated. Callus induction from a terminal bud, cambium and leave of E. ulmoides was carried out using Gamborg's B5 medium supplemented with phytohormones of 2,4-D and BAP, and two kinds of calli, green and yellow calli, were established from the cambium. Each callus was extracted with MeOH, the extract was partitioned between EtOAc and water, and the EtOAc soluble was separated using silica and C18 Sep-Paks. Lignans (pinoresinol, medioresinol and syringaresinol) in the extracts were analyzed with HPLC-PDA. The lignans were detected, but the amounts were poor. At present, to produce more lignans from the calli, several precursors and elicitors are added to the plant cultures, and the production of lignans will be discussed.
