Detection of Anthocyanidin from Cell Suspension Culture of Melastoma malabathricum

Abstract: Cell suspension culture of Melastoma malabathricum was established from friable leaf callus cultured in liquid Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with 0.25 mg/L BA (N6-benzylaminopurine) and 0.5 mg/L NAA (1-naphthalene-acetic acid). The anthocyanin in the cells was extracted and acid hydrolysed. Rf values in BA W (4:1:5), forestal and HCl-formic acid were determined on Whatman No. 3 paper and compared to the extract from petals of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis as the marker and the extracts from parts of the mother plant including the petals, fruits, leaves and petioles. Wavelength absorptions of the samples in MeOH-HCl and in the same solvent one hour after the addition of 5% aluminium chloride were determined. The anthocyanidin in the cell samples was found to be cyanidin, the one similar to that of the petals of Hibiscus, and the fruits, leaves and petioles of Melastoma mother plant. On the other hand, the anthocyanidin found in the petals was malvidin.