Plant Nutritional Elements and Tropane Alkaloid Production in the Roots of Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger)

The effect of calcium on the morphology, growth, tropane alkaloid production (hyoscyamine and scopolamine) and plant nutritional element (calcium, magnesium and potassium) content of roots and root cultures of Hyoscyamus niger L. was examined in this study. It was observed that the tropane alkaloid productivity of root cultures was significantly higher than that of the corresponding field cultures. Murashige-Skoog (MS) medium was found to be optimal for the production of tropane alkaloids of the root cultures of H. niger. Variation in the calcium content of the medium had no substantial effect on the morphology, growth or content of magnesium, potassium and sodium of the root cultures of H. niger. However, increased calcium content in MS medium increased the production of the scopolamine and decreased the production of alkaloid hyoscyamine in the root cultures of H. niger. Collectively, our results are helpful in the optimization of medium composition for the production of highly valuable tropane alkaloid scopolamine using root cultures of H. niger.