Alkaloid Formation in Hairy Roots and Cell Suspensions ofRauwolfia serpentinaBenth

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Abstract
Growth and alkaloid formation of hairy roots of Rauwolfia serpentina and Rauwolfia vomitoria were compared with that of well established cell suspension cultures of Rauwolfia serpentina and differentiated plants. Cell suspensions revealed clearly better growth - twice of the dry weight observed for the root culture. The hairy roots do not produce the major indole alkaloids typical for the root bark of Rauwolfia plants and synthesize besides vinorine and perakine two of the alkaloids formed in cell suspensions (vomilenine and ajmaline). The total yield of alkaloids of the cell culture is about 3.6-fold higher as compared with the root culture.