PRODUCTION OF GALANTHAMINE FROM NARCISSUS POETICUS L.

Galanthamine is a benzazepine alkaloid being the most interesting for its use in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease as a cholinesterase inhibitor. The cholinergic hypothesis postulates that memory impairment in patients with Alzheimer’s disease results from a deficit of cholinergic function in the brain [Lopez et al. 2002]. In the commercial drugs is present as active ingredient the galanthamine bromohydrate by chemical synthesis through an expensive and complex process. Potential sources for large-scale extraction of the alkaloid are species of genus Narcissus, a monocotyledon belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family; the bulb usually accumulates the highest amount of alkaloids and levels of galanthamine vary between species and cultivars from trace amounts to 2.5% of dry weight [Lubbe et al, 2009]. Our group extracted essential oil from Narcissus poeticus L. of Rocca di Mezzo (AQ- Italy) in a locality called Terranera, at an altitude of 1300-1400 m, in grass pasture, subject in winter to snowfalls and in spring to temporary flooding because of melting snow. The climate is humid, the zone is in full sunlight and the soil is Karst [Ferri et al, 2009]. In the last two seasons we investigated the presence of galanthamine in all parts of the plant (flower, stem, bulb and rootlet) and we found discrete levels of alkaloid not only in the bulbs [Ferri et al., 2013].In this paper we illustrate in vitro micropropagation of Narcissus poeticus L. that can represent a resource for the production of the biomolecules of interest. Some tests have been carried out for obtaining part of plants in vitro, with the use of phytohormones such as BAP and NAA (data in press). The organs including bulbs, microtubers, corms, somatic embryos and shoots, are suitable for mass propagation by using bioreactors. Bioreactor techniques for large-scale propagation of geophytes were described for Gladiolus, Narcissus and Crocus [Benschop et al., 2010]. Next step is to assess anticholinesterase activity (AChE) of galanthamine in the extracts, which may be masked or enhanced by the presence of other secondary metabolites. References