Evaluation of withaferin A content in different accessions and in in vitro cultures of Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal

In recent years, W. coagulans (Stocks) Dunal (Fam. Solanaceae) has gained much attention, owing to the presence of a large number of steroidal lactones known as withanolides. Out of the several withanolides isolated from W. coagulans, the biological compound, withaferine A is pharmacologically important that due to the significant and specific therapeutic action in cancer, Parkinson and Alzheimer’s disease. The present study was, therefore, undertaken to make an assessment of withaferin A content in the roots of different accessions of W. coagulans and in in vitro cultures. The seeds of five wild accssesion (USB001-5) were sown in greenhous. The cell suspension cultures were initialized from leaf explants derived callus on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, supplemented with 30 gL-1 sucrose (w/v), 2.0mg/l 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/l kinetin (Kin). Adventitious roots were induced directly from leaf segments on half strength MS medium (0.8% agar) with 2 mgl-1 indole-3-butyricacid (IBA) and 30 gl-1 sucrose. The withaferin A content was evaluated by TLC and HPLC method using standard withaferin-A compound. The results showed the presence of withaferin A in all accessions (21.01-44.54 µg/g D.W). In addition, there was significant differences among accession (P