High Triterpenic Acids Production in Callus Cultures from Fruit Pulp of Two Apple Varieties

IntroductionVery rarely fruit pulp has been used in in vitro culture to produce secondary metabolites useful in promoting health. ObjectivesThe aims of this work were the study of the best conditions to obtain the callus cultures from the pulp of two varieties of apples, Golden Delicious (GD) and Mela Rosa Marchigiana (MRM), and the quali-quantitative analysis of secondary metabolites produced by the two in vitro callus cultures. MethodologyCallus was induced on both Murashige and Skoog and Gamborg B5 media containing various combinations of supplements. To achieve the maximum recovery of secondary metabolites produced, preliminary extraction tests were carried out on GD apple culture using two different organic solvents (MeOH and EtOAc). The quali-quantitative analysis of the methanolic extract of both cultures was carried out by ESI-MSn and GC-MS techniques. ResultsThe GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of triterpenic acids, in particular, oleanolic, ursolic, maslinic, pomolic, tormentic, corosolic and annurcoic acid along with a phytosterol, -sitosterol. In addition, GD callus culture produced phloridzin, absent in the MRM culture. In this last culture, however, the total amount of secondary metabolites was markedly higher. The in vivo production of these bioactive compounds were also quantified in the GD and MRM apple pulps. ConclusionApple pulps produced higher amounts of triterpenic acids in vitro than in vivo. The present work can be considered a method to amplify the production of important secondary metabolites which exert beneficial effects on human health.Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Callus cultures from the pulp of two varieties of apples, Golden Delicious (GD) and Mela Rosa Marchigiana (MRM) were obtained. The quali-quantitative analysis (ESI-MSn and GC-MS) of the methanolic extract of both cultures showed the presence of triterpenic acids. GD callus culture produced phloridzin, absent in the MRM one. Apple pulps produced higher amounts of triterpenic acids in vitro than in vivo. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.