HPTLC-densitometric screening of thiophene content in callus cultures of four Asteraceae

HPTLC-densitometry was used to evaluate thiophene accumulation in callus cultures from Helianthus annuus L., Heliopsis laevis Pers., Tanacetum corymbosum Sch.Bip. and Santolina chamaecyparissus L. (Asteraceae). The large quali-quantitative variation of thiophene content that we observed, probably points out that there is no correlation in thiophene content between the parent explants and the tissue culture. Furthermore, it was found that the potential of the calli to synthetize thiophenes depends on the environmental (light/dark) and culture conditions and on the species employed. The results of this study indicate that our method represents a quick and useful tool for the screening of starting cultures in order to study thiophene production in vitro.