Cultivation Conditions and Histological and Biochemical Analysis of Callus Culture from Glycyrrhiza Glabra L.

Abstract The conditions for induction and periodic cultivation of callus culture from root explants of licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra L. have been described. The main difference of the selected medium from those already suggested is the use of a mixture of phytohormones—indolylacetic acids (IAAs, 1.5 mg/L) and naphthylacetic acids (NAAs, 1.5 mg/L), as well as kinetin (1 mg/L). The resulting callus is complexly organized and has the ability to synthesize secondary compounds. The spherical cell complexes that make up the callus are considered as xylem nodules. Histochemical study of the localization of flavonols and terpenes made it possible to identify callus cells and cellular organelles for the localization of secondary metabolites. The callus content (per 1 g of dry weight) by the end of passaging was glycyrrhizic acid, 74.65 mg/g; phenolic compounds, 19.65 ± 0.8 mg/g; and flavonols, 3.46 ± 0.07 mg/g. The resulting callus culture of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. can be used to obtain valuable biologically active substances.