Callus formation of cell suspensions in Uncaria tomentosa (cat’s claw)

Abstract

Uncaria tomentosa, known as cat’s claw, is a medicinal plant native to Peru, used in herbal medicine, mainly as anti-inflammatory, immune stimulant, antioxidant and cyto toxic in several cancer cell lines (HL-60, A549 and HEp-3). 

It’s necessary to generate biotechnological strategies for studying and extraction of active compounds from the plant, such as cell cultures in bioreactors. Allowing the production of secondary metabolites scale under controlled conditions. 

Prior to the escalation of the crop, it is necessary to standardize protocols callus induction and cell suspension setting. 

In the present work we tested two protocols callus induction from leaf segments vitroplants Uncaria tomentosa. Subsequently established in cell culture suspension. Were prepared growth kinetics of the process of callus formation and suspension culture. 

It was determined that the composition of the most effective medium for callus induction was Murashige and Skoog (MS) (1962) supplemented with 2 mg/L 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1 mg/L 3-Indole butyric acid (IBA). Besides that produced the highest biomass, the callus was friable, suitable for establishment of cell suspensions. The cell culture suspension was used in the culture medium more effective in the process of callus formation, cited above. Furthermore, it showed the predominance of two morphological types of cells, in both, callus and cell suspensions with characteristics depending on the cultivation stage.