Abstract

The natural insecticide azadirachtin is produced (930 mg/I) in cell cultures of Azadirachta indica grown on MS medium containing sucrose (3%), naphthalene acetic acid (1 mg/l) and kinetin (0.5 mg/l). Azadirachtin in culture extracts was identified by Co-TLC, UV and HPLC analysis. 90% of azadirachtin is retained in the cells. The addition of elicitors such as methyl jasmonate (1-500 mm/I), salacin (200-500mm/l), arachidonic acid (100-500mm/l) and cellulase (100 and 500 units/l) did not improve the production of azadirachtin.