Stimulation of the production of hypericins by mannan in Hypericum perforatum shoot cultures

Shoot organ cultures were established from callus derived from anthers of Hypericum perforatum flowers and the effect of elicitors on hypericin and pseudohypericin production in shoot organ cultures was investigated. Mannan stimulated pseudohypericin production up to four fold (0.82 mg/g dry wt) and hypericin production up to two fold (0.04 mg/g dry wt.) beta-1,3-glucan and pectin slightly stimulated pseudohypericin production (ca. two fold), but had no effect on hypericin production. On the other hand, yeast extract showed no stimulatory effect, on either hypericin or pseudohypericin production.