Andrographolide production in in vitro cultures of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees

Abstract

Fah Talai Jone, Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees is a Thai medicinal plant that has been used for Covid-19 treatment as alternative medicine. Pharmacologically active diterpene lactones such as andrographolide accumulate in its leaves. This study investigated the combinatorial effects of 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at 0, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/L and 6-benzyladenine (6-BA) (at 0, 5, and 10 mg/L) on the development and accumulation of andrographolide in A. paniculata in vitro using Murashige and Skoog, 1962 (MS) semi-solid medium. Results showed that lateral bud cultures had a survival rate of 33 to 73%, with good callus development when cultured on MS medium containing BA 10 mg/L and MS added with BA 10 mg/L and NAA 1.0 mg/L. Seeds germinated in vitro had a 100% survival rate and developed into mature plants with leaves and roots of 5-10 cm after 30 days of cultivation. Plantlets grown in vitro contained andrographolide at 1.14 % of dry weight, while plants grown in soil for 120 days had andrographolide content at 1.5% dry weight. However, andrographolide was not detected in the callus of treatments that contained BA, NAA alone or in combination. The in vitro plantlets had leaves and roots with lengths of 5-10 cm within the 30-day culture period and accumulated andrographolide at 1.14% dry weight.