Study on hairy root cultures of Camptotheca acuminata (Nyssaceae) and synthesis of the camptothecin (CPT)

Camptothecin (CPT) is an anticancer and antiviral alkaloid produced by the Camptotheca acuminata (Nyssaceae).Hairy root cultures of Camptotheca acuminata were established from tissue transformed with Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains A41.2556.The hairy roots grew rapidly in 1/2 MS culture medium.Integration of the genes responsible for the hairy-root phenotype (rolB genes) into the plant genome was verified by DNA PCR analysis.The method for extracting Camptothecin (CPT) from the hairy root with polyacrylamide was established.The cultures were able to synthesize the alkaloids at levels equal to,and sometimes greater than,the roots in plant,0.23 mg/g of dry weight for CPT from the hairy root.