Cell cultures of the root, bud, and fruit of Podophyllum peltatum were obtained at VILAR. The cytotoxic activity of extracts from various plant organs and cell cultures was studied. The primary characteristics of the plant metabolome responsible for this activity were determined. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography identified derivatives of ellagic, caffeic, and gallic acids; flavonoids; and podophyllotoxins in Me2CO extracts of P. peltatum cell cultures. Results of the resazurin test showed that the Me2CO extracts of the plant organs reduced the viability of HeLa cells by 52 – 62%; extracts of callus cultures, by 52 – 76%; and extracts of suspension cultures, by 12 – 88%. The most stable cytotoxic activity was shown by extracts of P. peltatum rhizomes and roots (reducing test cell viability by 52 – 60%) and extracts of callus (53 – 74%) and suspension cultures (20 – 60%) obtained from the plant root. Thus, callus and suspension cell cultures of P. peltatum root can serve as inexpensive and convenient raw materials for the production of antitumor compounds, which corresponds to rational nature management as one of the priority tasks of the modern pharmaceutical industry.
