Galanthamine production by Leucojum aestivum in vitro shoot cultures

Galanthamine, an Amaryllidaceae alkaloid, become an important therapeutic options used to slow down the process of neurological degeneration in Alzheimer's disease. Although chemical synthesis of galanthamine has been successfully established, the main commercial source in Bulgaria for the production of galanthamine-based medicines (under trade name Nivalin®) is Leucojum aestivum, an Euro-Mediterranean species, also called summer snowflake. Since 1989, prescription regime of the utilization of this plant species has been imposed and, from these perspectives, galanthamine production from in vitro cultures is considered as an alternative.