Agrobactirium rhizogenes induced hairy root development and its effect on production of glycyrrhizin in abrus precatorius (l).

There is a strong correlation between secondary metabolite production and morphological differentiation, which gives more impetus to application of organized cell culture for large-scale production of phytopharmaceuticals. The roots are the sites of synthesis and /or storage of plant metabolites; they are important organs for the production of valuable phytochemical. In Ayurvedic system of medicine A. precatorius is used as important drug for various ailments as Roots are used as diuretic, tonic, emetic, alexitric and as substitute of liquorices and have antifertility activity. Roots contain about 5% glycyrrhizin (pentacyclic triterpene glycoside) and 8% of an acid resin. Therefore, an attempt had been made to study the inoculation effect of Agrobacterium rhizogenes on development and production of secondary metabolites in A. precatorius. Significant increment in fresh weight in hairy roots cultured in solidified media was observed. The data revealed 5.25 times increment in fresh weight from initial fresh weights. 700 mg of glycyrrhizin was obtained from 20g of roots of field-grown plant giving the concentration of glycyrrhizin - 35mg/g d.w.b. Absorbance of hairy roots extract at 248nm is 6.615 with the help of regression equation (for standard curve of glycyrrhizin) concentration of glycyrrhizin was found to be 71.35mg/g d.w.b.