Production of solasodine by calli from different parts of Solanum eleganifolium Cav. plants.

Callus tissues from different explants (hypocotyl, cotyledon, root, leaf and fruit) of Solanum eleagnifolium Cav. were cultured on a modified Murashige-Skoog medium, with 1 mg.1(-1) 2,4-D as the sole growth regulator. The presence of the alkaloid solasodine was determined by spectrophotometric and TLC methods. Its concentration ranged from 1.00 to 2.15 mg.g(-1) DW. The calli from different explants showed a direct association between the solasodine production and their growth, although they have a different production rate. It was also observed that about the seventh week of culture the metabolite concentration decreased in all cases.