Analysis of Secondary Metabolite Production in Somatic Embryo of Pasak Bumi (Eurycoma Longifolia Jack.)

Pasak bumi (Eurycoma longifolia Jack.) has been known as a plants that can produce secondary metabolites for medicinal purposes such as: aphrosidiac, antimalaria, dysentri, antitumor, etc. Poor seed germination of pasak bumi will affect the avaibility of plant material for drug extraction. Over exploitation of this plant will also reduce plant population in its natural habitat. In vitro culture, i.e. through somatic embryogenesis, therefore, can be used as one of an alternative method for plant regeneration as well as for in vitro metabolite production. Based on this reason, the research has been done with an objective to analyze the presence of secondary metabolite in somatic embryo of pasak bumi. Seed-derived callus was used as an explant. This callus was maintained to proliferate in MS (Murashige&Skoog, 1962) medium supplemented with 2.25 mg/L 2,4-D and 2.0 mg/L kinetin. A half gram of callus from proliferation medium was transferred into the MS liquid medium containing 1.0 or 2.25 mg/L 2,4-D, and 2.0 mg/L BAP or 2.0 mg/L kinetin. Histochemical examination using Jeffrey's reagen and neutral red showed that alkaloid and terpenoid substances were presence in somatic embryo of pasakbumi. In accordance with histochemical test, GC-MS analyses showed that secondary metabolites was also synthesized by non embryogenic callus and the mixture ofembryogenic callus and somatic embryo, although the concentration in the mixture of embryogenic callus and somatic embryo was lower than those in non-embryogenic callus. Secondary metabolites, including 3-(cyclohexyl-methyl-amino)-methyl]-3H-benzooxazole-2-one (0.06%) and 2-furancarboxaldehyde, 5-(hydroxymethyl) (43.024%) were found in embryogenic callus and somatic embryo. In addition, the mixture of embryogenic callus and somatic embryo also synthesized fatty acid and lipids (52.751%) which was higher than non-embryogenic callus (24.789%). Based on the result, the mixture of embryogenic callus and somatic embryo could produce secondary metabolites, such as alkaloid, terpenoid subtances, and phenol. The concentration of metabolites in the mixture of embryogenic callus and somatic embryo, however, was lower compare to non-embryogenic callus.