SECONDARY METABOLITES PRODUCTION FROM CELL SUSPENSION CULTURE OF Citrus aurantium L.

Flavonoid contents in fruit and tissues of Citrus aurantium are related to antioxidant activity, and are of particular interest in the pharmaceutical industry. The aim of the present work was to develop a protocol for production of flavonoids, from Citrus aurantium cell suspensions. For this purpose, substrates containing different growth regulators, at different concentrations, were compared. The highest percentage of callus formation (100%), for cotyledons cultured in presence of mg.l-1 2,4-D and 2 mg.l-1 kinetin, and for ovules cultured in presence of 0.2 mg.l-1 2,4-D and 2 mg.l-1 kinetin was observed. The hormonal combination that gave the higher amount of fresh weight was 1 mg.l-1 2, 4D with 2 mg.l-1 kinetin for cotyledons and MS supplemented with 1 mg.l-1 or 0.2 mg.l-1 2,4 D and 2 mg.l-1 kinetin. The highest amount of total polyphenols and total flavonoids was obtained from cell suspensions starting from callus of ovules.