Determination of cardiac glycosides and total phenols in different generations of Securigera securidaca suspension culture

The seeds of Securigera securidaca (L.) Deg. & Dorf. (Fabaceae) are used as anti-diabetic remedy in Iranian folk medicine. The aim of the present study was to establish the callus and suspension culture of S. securidaca seeds for the first time and to determine the major secondary metabolites including cardiac glycosides and total phenols.

The culture of S. securidaca from seeds was initiated in hormone-supplemented MS medium containing 1 and 0.1 ppm 2, 4-D solution for solid and suspension cultures, respectively, sucrose and vitamins (B1, B2, B6, Folic acid, Biotin, Nicotinamide and Ca pantothenate) at 25 °C and 12 h photoperiods. The cardiac glycosides were determined based on the calibration curve of securidaside which was isolated from the seeds extract of S. securidaca. Total phenolic compounds of different generations of suspension culture were determined using Folin Ciocalteu reagent.

Callus culture of S. securidaca was grown light cream to pale yellow in color and soft in texture while the cells of suspension culture grew cream to yellow with isolated cells and small aggregates. The production of cardiac glycosides in the 7th generation were more than the seeds extract (p<0.05) and from the 8th generation it reached to a steady state. The amount of phenolic contents were elevated and reached to its peak during the 8th generation but it was much lower than the seeds extract.

In vitro culture of S. securidaca showed possibility for production of cardiac glycosides more than the seeds extract.