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Alkaloid Accumulation
in Catharanthus weus Suspension Cultures
Alan H. Scragg

1. Introduction
Plants have traditionally been the source of pharmaceuticals and tine chemi-
cals, and at this time, plant material is still being screened for new compounds
(2). Initially, plant cell and tissue culture was developed m order to study
the biochemistry and physiology of plants without the complication of the
whole plant. However, plant cell or tissue cultures were also found to accumu-
late many of the compounds characteristic of the origmal plant (2). Many plants
are the source of plant-derived products, which mclude drugs, fragrances, col-
ors, oils, and pesticides (3). Most of these valuable plant products are defined
as secondary metabohtes, which are often complex in structure, the end prod-
uct of long biochemical pathways, not essential for growth, but do often confer
some advantage to the plant, such as reduction of predation (3). A number of
these secondary products are very valuable, such as taxol (4), and plant cell
culture may provide an additional source of supply if
l There is a high demandfor the product.
l The product is affected by disease.
l Supply is affected by the climate
l Only low levels accumulate in plants.

It may also provide an alternative supply if:

l The plant is rare.
l The plant species is protected.
l No chemical synthesis IS avallable

From Methods m Molecular B/o/ogy, Vol 111 Plant Cell Culture Profocok
Edlted by R D Hall 0 Humana Press Inc , Totowa, NJ

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