Emetic and anticancer compounds produced by Psychotria ipecacuanha adventitious roots

For decades the isoquinoline alkaloids emetine and cephaeline, isolated from Psychotria ipecacuanha roots (or Cephaelis ipecacuanha, known as “ipeca”) have been used as an emetic1, antiamoebic2 and the anticancer potential has been studied more recently3. Tissue culture studies has been done to find a adequate culture media for adventitious roots propagation from P. ipecacuanha in order to get the isoquinoline alkaloids production. For that, we have developed ipeca adventitious roots using a basal medium (MS medium, sucrose, inositol and vitamin solution) supplemented with three different NAA concentrations (naphthalene acetic acid; 2.0 mg.L-1, 1.0 mg.L-1 and 0.5 mg.L-1)4. After 2 months, a methanolic extract was prepared and submitted HPLC-MS analyses. All adventitious roots provided the 1 and 2 biosynthesis in all NAA concentrations tested. The medium culture supplemented with 2.0 mg.L-1 and 1.0 mg.L-1 of NAA showed additional callus production whilst the supplementation with 0.5 mg.L-1 of NAA showed large perennial adventitious roots.