Characterization of a Suspension Culture of Tabernaemontana elegans on Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Accumulation of Indole Alkaloids*.

A suspension culture of TABERNAEMONTANA ELEGANS was characterized on growth, nutrient uptake (carbohydrate, nitrogen, and phosphate), and on accumulation of indole alkaloids. Besides tryptamine seven indole alkaloids were isolated and identified: vobasine, vobasinol, perivine, isositsirikine, apparicine, tubotaiwine, and O-acetylvallesamine. In spite of the presence of vobasinol as major product, only trace amounts of dimeric indole alkaloids could be detected. Alkaloid formation started at the early stationary phase.