Improved artemisinin accumulation in hairy root cultures of Artemisia annua by (22S, 23S)-homobrassinolide

When (22S, 23S)-homobrassinolide (SSHB) was added at 1 mug l(-1) to hairy root cultures of Artemisia annua, the production of artemisinin reached to 14 mg l(-1), an increment of 57% over the control. SSHB treatment led concomitantly to an increased biomass production of 15 g l(-1). A stimulatory activity of SSHB on nucleic acids and soluble protein content in hairy roots was also observed at the growth stage.