Naphthoquinone Formation in Cell Cultures of Impatiens balsamina

Induction of naphthoquinone formation in Impatiens balsamina cell cultures was achieved by using parent plants yielding high levels of 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone as initiated explants. The cell culture with red-yellowish color was established in B5 medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BA). The cell cultures were capable of producing two naphthoquinones, lawsone, and an unknown, which was more polar than lawsone. The time-course of growth and lawsone production in I. balsamina cell culture were also established.