Centella asiatica accumulates large amounts of triterpene saponin, such as centellasaponin, asiaticoside, madecassoside. We examined the effect of two candidates, MJ (Methyl jasmonate) and TDZ (thidiazuron), on asiaticoside production and the accumulation of bAS mRNA associated with asiaticoside biosynthesis in leaves of cultured whole plants. The growth of whole plants treated with 0.1 mM MJ was found to decrease significantly, however, the growth of whole plants treated with 0.1 mM MJ plus 0.025 mg/l TDZ was better than that treated with MJ alone. When MJ alone was added to culture medium, asiaticoside contents in leaves were higher than that of control after 7 days of treatments. The maximum level of bAS (β-amyrin synthsae) mRNA in leaves of whole plant treated TDZ and MJ was transiently observed after exposure to 5 days. These results showed the up-regulation of bAS gene by adding TDZ and MJ at the molecular level, however, synergic effects of TDZ and MJ on asiaticoside biosynthesis were not testified.

• Ok-Tae Kim
• Min-Young Kim
• Jun-Cheul Ahn
• Baik Hwang