Micropropagation Of Lepidium Virginicum (Brassicaceae), A Plant With Antiprotozoal Activity

• Published in: In vitro cellular & developmental biology. Plant 2006-11, Vol.42 (6), p.596-600
• Main Authors: Osuna, L, Tapia-perez, ME, Figueroa, O, Jimenez-ferrer, E, Garduno-ramirez, M L, Gonzalez-garza, M T, Carranza-rosales, P, Cruz-vega, DE
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brassicaceae; Lepidium virginicum
• ISSN: 1054-5476
• DOI: 10.1290/2006826.1

Micropropagation is a technique to ensure a constant and uniform source of medicinal plants. In this report, we describe the micropropagation of Lepidium virginicum L. (Brassicaceae), a wild plant used as an antiamoebic in traditional Mexican medicine. In vitro-germinated seeds were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium to obtain pathogen-free cotyledons, hypocotyls, and apical bud (AB) explants. For induction of morphogenesis, the effect of cytokinins, benzyladenine (BA) and kinetin (KN), combined with auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was evaluated. The best rate of shoot proliferation was induced 15 d after culture on MS mineral medium supplemented with IAA:KN (0.57:13.94 mu M) from AB explants. Maximum shoot elongation was achieved without plant growth regulators. The effect of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (14.76 mu M) was evaluated for in vitro root induction; 60 d after culture all the shoots had developed roots. All rooted plants were successfully transferred to pots and 100% acclimatized in ex vitro conditions. The methanol extracts from the micropropagated active explants of L. virginicum showed and IC sub(50) antiprotozoal value between 141.90 and 268.53 mu g ml super(-1).