Atena Alaghemand, Mansour Ghorbanpour, Davood Eradatmand Asli and Behnaz Moghaddasian
Tropane alkaloids, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, are well-known secondary metabolites produced by many solanaceous species such as Hyoscyamus niger. These compounds are widely used for scopolamine hydrobromide and hyoscyamine sulfate tablets production as anticholinergic, antispasmodic and sedative agents. The objective of current study was to investigate the effects of various calcium concentrations (0, 16.6, 33.3 and 50 mg/L) on black henbane roots and leaves dry weight and their alkaloids content under hydroponic culture. Results showed that the plants root dry weight increased with increasing the amount of calcium fertilization from 0 to 33.3 mg Ca/L, but decreased at 50 mg Ca/L. However, the total foliage dry weight was recorded at the lowest calcium level. Results also revealed that the maximum content of hyoscyamine and scopolamine in leaf was observed in 50 mg Ca/L, while the highest content of scopolamine and hyoscyamine were found in control and in 33.3 mg Ca/L levels, respectively. It seems that a calcium fertilizer is essential nutrient elements necessary for henbane growth and metabolism.
