Enhanced Production of Psoralen, A Furanocoumarin in Callus Cultures of Cullen corylifolium (L.) Medik.

Callus cultures derived from internodes and leaf explants of a medicinally important plant, Cullen corylifolium were established on Z medium fortified with 9.04 �M 2,4-D and 9.3 �M kinetin. Psoralen, a furanocoumarin, was isolated from calli and confirmed by 1H NMR, 13CNMR, electron-ionization mass spectra and high pressure liquid chromatography analysis. Maximum growth of leaf callus on dry weight basis (3.44 g/culture) was noticed on 5% sucrose, but 2% maltose favored 2.45 mg psoralen/g dry cell weight (DCW). Among amino and phenolic acids, 0.1 mM phenylalanine/l resulted in 2.85 mg of psoralen/g DCW. The content of psoralen was several folds higher in callus cultures compared to the intact plant tissues.