Establishment of Callus Cultures of Gentiana olivieri Griseb. and Investigation of Secondary Metabolites

Flowered herba of Gentiana olivieri which is known as Afat in Gaziantep region is used in traditional folk medicine as appetizer, digestive aid, antidiabetic, antianemic, antihepatotoxic and antidepressant. In this study, callus production capacity of root and leaf explants obtained from in vitro germinated seeds of G. olivieri were investigated in dark. WPM or MS medium containing 0.5 mg L-1 BAP - 1 mg L^-1 NAA or 0.2 and 0.5 mg L^-1 Kinetin-1 mg L^-1 NAA were used for stimulating the induction of callus tissue. The calli were subcultured every 4 weeks. Callus growth index was calculated for determination of increasing the callus quantity. The best callus growths were observed in leaf explants formed on WPM containing 0.5 mg L^-1 BAP - 1 mg L^-1 NAA after 4 weeks followed by explants sowing and in root explants formed on MS medium containing 0.2 mg L^-1 Kinetin - 1 mg L^-1 NAA after 8 weeks of culture. Calli which were induced on leaf explants grown on WPM during three subcultures were extracted with methanol. Secondary metabolites were investigated by thin layer chromatography (TLC). Spots, which were expected to have iridoidal structure, were observed on TLC plates.