Callus Culture as a Tool for Producing Phytochemicals in Glycyrrhiza Glabra: A Medicinal Plant Study

Abstract

Glycyrrhiza glabra, commonly known as licorice, is a perennial medicinal plant valued for its high content of bioactive compounds, including glycyrrhizin and flavonoids, which have significant agricultural and pharmaceutical applications. This study evaluated the efficacy of callus culture as a sustainable agricultural biotechnology approach for enhancing phytochemical production in Glycyrrhiza glabra. Callus induction was achieved using root explants cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L BAP and 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D, resulting in an 88.89% induction rate. Phytochemical profiling using GC-MS revealed significantly higher concentrations of key bioactive compounds in callus tissues compared to in vivo and in vitro roots, including glycyrrhizin (15.8 mg/g), lupeol (8.2 mg/g), and methylglabridin (6.7 mg/g). Biochemical analyses further demonstrated that callus tissues exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (85.3% DPPH scavenging) and phenolic content (9.76 mg GAE/g DW), outperforming both field-grown and in vitro roots. These results highlight the enhanced biosynthetic capacity of callus cultures under controlled in vitro conditions, positioning them as a viable tool for the sustainable production of high-value phytochemicals. This study underscores the importance of integrating biotechnological approaches into agricultural practices to meet industrial demands while conserving biodiversity in regions like Kurdistan.