Somatic Embryogenesis and Quantification of Levodopa in Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC - A medicinal legume

Abstract

Secondary metabolite production can be achieved by using Plant cell culture method as a choice. The plant Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC an annual legume is rich in an exceptionally important amino acid called L-Dopa, 3‐(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐L‐alanine. L-Dopa is a very important compound from the point of pharma and medicine. The present study reports the somatic embryogenesis induction in Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. The study includes the collection of nodal and internodal samples from the mature plant and with them, the explant was prepared by culturing on MS basal medium. The shoot tip explants obtained from them was then carried out for the induction of callus formation on MS medium along with containing the different hormones like 2,4-D, NAA, 2,4-D + NAA, and 2,4-D+BAP. The callus with the best features was carried forward for the somatic embryogenesis process followed by its germination in both solid and liquid medium. The well propagative somatic embryos were then taken forward for acclimatization and finally transferred to the fields. The plants were then analyzed for the presence and quantitative analysis of L-Dopa in them via extraction from tissue and quantification by HPLC method. The conclusion driven from the study is that the somatic embryogenesis is a very better way for large scale and high yielding propagation of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC as wells as it yields the plantlets with good L-Dopa concentration, which is itself a pharmacologically important compound.