In vitro regeneration of Iranian celandine (Chelidonium majus L.)

Celandine (Chelidonium majus L.) is a medicinal plant belonging to the Papaveraceae and rich in isoquinolin alkaloids. Chemical synthesis of these alkaloids is not possible. So, the pharmaceutical industry requires large quantities of plants to extract these compounds. The purpose of this study was optimization of a repeatable method for regeneration of celandine by callus induction. Celandine seeds after surface sterilizing were placed on 1/2MS medium for germination. Cotyledon and hypocotyl explants were prepared from 20-day-old sterile seedlings and leaf explants from 3-month-old plants. Explants were put on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators (PGRs) to callus induction. The highest fresh weight was for calli in mediums containing 1 mg/l 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in combination with 0.5 or 1 mg/l Amino Purine (BAP) or Tidiazuron (TDZ). Organogenesis was observed in few treatments after repetitive subculture. Plant regeneration only happened in PGRs free MS medium, from cotyledon calli after 2 months with frequency of 11.11 % by one shoot per explant. Shoots were rooted in PGRs free MS medium with frequency of 77.78 % by 2.36 roots per explant.