Abstract

Taxus is an endangered plant which is the only commercial source of paclitaxel, which is used for treatment of ovary and breast cancer. As production of this valuable drug is a destructive process, other alternatives should be considered for its sustainable production. Plant tissue and cell culture is a promising method for production of secondary metabolites. In order to optimize yew callus culture effects of 16 combinations of two plant growth regulators, 2, 4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg/L) and Kinetin (0, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/L) on callogenesis of Taxus brevifolia twig explants were studied. Considering growth criteria, fresh weight (33.5 mg), dry weight (3.88 mg) and callogenesis ratio (1.45), based on statistical analysis the best plant growth regulators combination for induction and growth of callus of twig explants was appeared to be 1.5 mg/L of 2, 4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 0.1 mg/L of Kinetin. © 2014, Baqiyatallah university of medical sciences. All rights reserved.