Screening of vincristine yield in ex vitro and in vitro somatic embryos derived plantlets of Catharanthus roseus L. (G) Don.

Catharanthus roseus L. (G.) Don. (Apocynaceae) is an important dicotyledonous medicinal plant as it is the sole source of vincristine and vinblastine that are used against a variety of cancers. Quantitative estimation of vincristine was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in various in vitro grown tissues; calluses (embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus), embryogenic stages (proliferated, matured and germinated embryos), somatic embryo derived plantlets (leaf, root and whole plant) and leaves of ex vitro developed plantlets. The yield in those in vitro and ex vitro-developed tissues was monitored for 30 weeks. Except at an early lag period, vincristine production was detected up to 20–25 weeks old plant samples. Vincristine content was very high in leaf callus and germinated embryos. Leaves of in vitro raised plants showed higher amount of vincristine when compared to ex vitro-developed leaves of similar age. Vincristine production was tissue specific and age dependent that was discussed in detail in this present communication.