Ammi visnaga (Umbelliferae) are subtropical annual plants, which contain two groups of pharmaceutically important substances: furanochromones and piranocoumarins. In order to check the possibility of the production of secondary metabolites, in vitro cultures of callus and cell suspension were established. The study was concentrated on the induction of production of secondary metabolites by exposing callus and cell suspension cultures to abiotic elicitors: acetylsalicylic acid, jasmonic acid and suspension of silicon dioxide and biotic elicitors: autoclaved lysates of Enterobacter sakazaki, and scleroglucan. Thin layer chromatography of methanol extracts of cultures of A. visnaga did not indicate high induction of secondary metabolites production. Treatment of the callus cultures of A. visnaga with acetylsalicylic acid or jasmonic acid induce accumulation of furanochromone - visnagin and piranocoumarin ? samidin. Exposing the callus and cell suspension cultures to the suspension of silicon dioxide indicated an induction of accumulation of furanochromone - kelolglucoside. Further research will concentrate on quantitative determination of the level of accumulated compounds.
E. Lojkowska, Zaklad Ochrony i Biotechnologii Roslin, Mi?dzyuczelniany Wydzial Biotechnologii UG i AMG, ul. Kladki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland, e-mail: lojkowsk@biotech.univ.gda.pl