Ecdysteroids in Native Trees and Callus Cultures of the Genus <scp><i>Vitex</i></scp> L. of the Flora of Russia and Vietnam

Higher levels of ecdysteroids were revealed in different plant parts of Vitex canescens Kurz, Vitex pinnata L., Vitex quinata (Lour.) F.N.Williams, and Vitex tripinnata (Lour.) Merr. It has been established that species rich in ecdysteroids, as well as those containing trace amount of ecdysteroids (V. agnus-castus L., Vitex negundo L., and Vitex rotundifolia L.f.) are grouped in certain clades isolated from each other on the molecular phylogenetic tree of the genus. The most promising raw materials are the young leaves of V. tripinnata (8562 μg/g of dry biomass), as well as the bark of V. canescens (16,520 μg/g) and V. quinata (19,130 μg/g). The bark of V. canescens could be a good source of turkesterone (11α-oxyecdysteroid) that has pronounced pharmacological effects. Its content reaches up to 1400 μg/g in the bark. Discovering ability of callus cultures for synthesis of ecdysteroids allows us to outline experimental ways to increase the level of ecdysteroid biosynthesis in biotechnological systems as alternative source of ecdysteroids.